062 



Reduction of Taxes 



advantages of cheap labour, open markets, and unrestricted intercourse. 

 That orders for their produce, with ample supplies of stores, are sent 

 from the best markets of Europe and America, while he is forced to 

 compete with them under restrictions imposed by the mother country, 

 which cannot be estimated, at an enhancement upon the cost of pro- 

 ducing sugar, at less than 6*. or 8*. upon every hundred weight. 

 Persons not thoroughly acquainted with the subject may suppose that 

 this is an exaggerated statement ; but we have good reason to believe, 

 that it is one that can, and will, on investigation, be fully substantiated. 

 Under these circumstances is it surprising that the colonist should loudly 

 complain of the system that has brought him into this distressing situa- 

 tion, and that he should demand a fair investigation of his situation, with 

 a view to measures of relief? We perceive that Ministers have, for the 

 present, evaded the desire of the West Indians to bring their situation 

 before Parliament, by giving a pledge to take it into serious considera- 

 tion during the summer. But, in the mean time, it seems absolutely 

 necessary to afford immediate relief by a reduction of the duty, so as to 

 promote consumption, in order, in the first place, to absorb the surplus 

 stock of British plantation sugars presently in the home market, and 

 pave the way for such general measures as may hereafter be deemed 

 necessary to meet the new circumstances in which political changes in 

 other countries have placed our colonies. 



The West Indians urge that, by the consumption of our colonial pro- 

 duce by our own people, who pay for it by manufactures and home 

 produce, we raise a sure revenue, capable of being extended, in a case of 

 emergency, and not liable to be affected by the caprice, hostility, or cu- 

 pidity of foreigners ; and that a considerable reduction of the sugar duties 

 would so increase consumption, that eventually the revenue derived from 

 it would, instead of falling off, be very considerably augmented. 



This view of the subject seems to be fully corroborated by the effect 

 which a considerable reduction of duty has had on the consumption of 

 other articles, of which we give the following examples : 



QUANTITIES OF COFFEE RETAINED FOR HOME CONSUMPTION IN 

 GREAT BRITAIN. 



