The Speeches of the Right Honorable William Huskisson; With a Biographical Memoir, Supplied to the Editor from Authentic Sources Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1831 edition. Excerpt: ...whole of their prohibitory duties, for the purpose of Alderman Thompson. rendering them better adapted to the real commercial protection of the country. With respect to the West-Indian interests, it was quite impossible to retain the sugar bounties, which had no other operation than to raise the price, and impose a useless tax on the consumer without benefiting the colonies. The reduction on the coffee duties would, he had no doubt, be found very beneficial. He remembered that when he had been the means of reducing the coffee duty from 2s. 4rf. a pound to 4rf. only, the larger consumption immediately augmented the previous amount of revenue. This would be not only an advantage to the country, but also to the West-Indian interests; who must, besides, sensibly feel the reduction in rum from 10s: 6d. to 8. He admitted the present extent to which the smuggling traffic in brandy, hollands, and whiskey, was carried; but the committee must see how greatly the reduction in the price of British spirits would repress the contraband trade in hollands and brandy, and give fairer play to the rum and the home trade. Then, as to rum, an honourable gentleman intimated, that unless the duties on it were lowered to that of British spirits, there would be no consumption of the article. The fact was, that rum had always been at a higher duty, and therefore any argument so founded must fail; while, on the other hand, the duties on rum had always borne a comparison rather favourable to that article, when considered in reference to other spirits not of British manufacture. The honourable member for Bristol had complained of the remaining effects of the restrictive system. He hoped to give that honourable gentleman and the House a large measure of relief, in regard to...