HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue I, 30 July 1842, Page 84

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Thursday, Feb. 3. CORN LAWS. Sir Robert Peel, previous to the motion ffcf the address, gave notice, amid loud cheers, that on Monday he should move the house go into committee to consider the law affecting the importation of corn. He would name an earlier day, but awaited the preparation of some papers on the subject, which he thought it needful to lay before the house. THE ADDRESS. The address was moved by the Earl of March. He touched on the various points of the speech, urged the necessity of a revenue equal to necessary expenditure, deprecated the false economy of crippling the nation's means of defence ; at the same time, he was anxious that taxation should not fall heavily on the poorer classes. He preferred to see the revision of the corn laws undertaken by those who would give just protection to agriculture, rather than by those who were some for a fixed duty of Ss. and some for no protection whatever. Mr. Bbckett, in seconding the address, gave testimony to the severe distress in the manufacturing districts. Statements made in the house six months ago were thought highly coloured, but he could now assure the house that the distress was fearfully extended, and that its effects were felt by all classes of society. He knew great confidence was reposed in Sir Robert Peel; but still, whatever remedy was proposed, the country could not prosper without means were adopted to afford regular employment to the poor. Mr. Ewart recommended the adoption of some suggestions in the Report of the Committee on Import Duties. He was most anxious for a reduction of the duties on sugar and coffee. He would support a property tax laid on landed and funded property alike. He feared the Government plans on the subject of the corn laws would not tend to increase our exports to America, and so bring corn in return. While England was exclusive America would be so. The same policy had injured our trade with Germany, by making it a manufacturing country. He hoped to see the Eliding scale abandoned, and Sir Robert Peel change his commercial policy, as he did his views on religious freedom. Lord John Russell heartily concurred in the early part of the addres. He had little to observe on foreign relations. He would give no opinion aB to the wisdom of sending a special mission to the United States, but hoped it might satisfactorily arrange all differences. He regarded with satisfaction the domestic topics adverted to. He might not be able to support the proposed measures, but it was a satisfaction to find that they were to be of a nature similar to those which it was the pride of the late Government to have brought under the consideration of Parliament. Then they were to excite discord, inflame discontent, injure the institutions of the country, and lead to incalculable evil; now they are remedies for financial difficulties and the distresses of the people. The disorder of the public finances required correction; but that subject should only be considered in conjunction with the laws affecting trade. Various remedies had been lately suggested. First, there was the Ten Hours Factory Bill, with the delegates and their theatrical interview with the honourable baronet. Next, a great scheme of emigration, to be a remedy for all difficulties, by which the people were to be transported to the colonies at the public expense. But now it appeared, by a letter written by Lord Stanley, that no such scheme was entertained. He hoped that, at all events, before it was brought forward, it would be seen that it was likely to remedy the disorder of the finances. He should disbelieve such an intention, so likely to lead to fresh difficulties, until he heard the notice given. Another prediction was the total or partial repeal of all that was odious in the New Poor Law. A practical denial to this was given by the appointment of a third commissioner, whose nomination did honour to those who appointed him. He rejoiced in the omissions he observed in the speech, showing that none of these measures, some of which he thought dangerous, all of them futile, were to be resorted to. On the corn law he would not enter in detail, but he must press the principle of the fixed duty. He begged Sir Robert Peel to consider the evils of making an arrangement which would be disturbed by freah discontent and agitation. He was not prepared to promise assent to new taxation : it would be more proper to modify the commercial system, and await its effects on the exchequer. There was nothing, however, to prevent an unanimous vote oh the address. Sir R. Peel was gratified, not surprised, at Lord John's concurrence in the address. It had been framed purposely to avoid premature collision of opinion. He adverted to the cordial co-operation given by Russia to the arrangements with Persia. He justified the special mission of Lord Ashburton to the United States, by showing the long existence of the cause of difference, and the failure of various Governments to bring them to a satisfactory conclusion by correspondence. After noticing the various plans alluded to by Lord John Russell, he said that he wished to bring on the financial and commercial policy of the country together, but was withheld by considerations of public interest; but no unnecessary delay should take place in explaining the views of Government. Mr. C. Villiers rejoiced that the land proprietors shrunk from maintaining the corn law. Now that its mischiefs were generally detected, he would take the earliest opportunity ol obtaining the sense of the house on the subject, Mr. Escott expressed his anxiety to see the corn law question settled with a view to the interest of all, — Address agreed to.