Mr, John Peters. ( 23 May.) 14S MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE djl". Mr. John Peters, again called in ; and Examined. ARE you acquained with or do you know the manner in which coals are sold in Dublin?— I do; they are sold by measure; and I believe I may go on to answer that it is the general opinion that if they were sold by weight there would be greater justice done to the public. I have made inquiries on the quays from a certain class of persons, both of character and of property, coal- factors, and the answer they have given me is, that the public are robbed. Would you take the opinion of the coal- factors, as the most unprejudiced and impartial, respecting the injustice of the present mode of selling coals in Dublin?— I have weighed that in my own mind, and I do not think they can be influenced by any private interest as to the sale of coals by measure more than by weight. Do not you think that if the mode of selling coals was altered, namely, if it was changed to weight instead of measure, that a great part of the business of retailing coals would be transferred from the ships to the coal- factors yards?— I have not considered it. I have also asked persons who are entirely disinterested, who live on the quay, and they were of the same opinion. Are there not yards established in Dublin under the superintendence of coal- factors for the sale of coals ?— There are, for the purpose of stowing coals when they are cheap, in order to sell them out when they are dear. Are those coal- yards resorted to by purchasers of coal more than the ships ?—* No ; when there are ships at market they go to them ; but when there are 110 ships they go to the coal- yards. Then what inference do you draw from this, that the purchasers of coals, namely, the citizens of Dublin, who are supposed to know their own interests, prefer buying coals from the ships to buying them in the yards of the coal- factors ?— The coal- factors must necessarily have a profit, and when coals are cheap, of course the pur- chasers will go to the first market. But if frauds were supposed to exist 111 that mode of selling coals in the ships} would not the citizens naturally, in self defence, go to the place where no frauds are supposed to exist ?— I have been present when great frauds were committed. Will you have the goodness to answer the question ?— It would be going to a second market to go to the coal- factors. Then the Committee are to understand from your answer, that if a change was made, by which the sale of coals would be transferred to the yards of the coal- factors that a great increase of price would take place in that article ?— I think it is natural to suppose that the coal- factors would not sell without a profit; but as to the frauds committed in measurement, I am quite certain of it, because I have been present at it. There are a certain number of measurers appointed, and those persons are of a certain description, completely under the control of the Guild of Merchants, and they are appointed for the purpose of doing justice ; but I am satisfied they do not do justice. I was once present on board a ship, when I saw tubs delivered that were not near full; and I inquired for the master- porter; there was no such person on board. Seeing the very glaring injustice, I remonstrated with the person, and in fact he laughed at 111c; " Oh sir !" said he, " as they are not your coals you have nothing to do with it." The only remedy I had then was to stand by and see my own coals measured. Did you make any complaint to the Coal Committee of that?— Indeed I did not; I never knew there was a Coal Committee ; but I am aware there is a very consi- derable sum levied off the public, which amounts to above 10,000/. a year. 1 believe the sixpence a ton amounts to that. Are you aware of the mode of selling coals in London?— I am not; but I am quite satisfied, from inquiries I have made from disinterested persons, that the public would be much benefited by a change of the system in Dublin ; and that four or five persons would answer the purpose of eighty or a hundred. Do you think that a room- keeper would buy a bag of coals?— I can also say, that when poor persons come for a bag of coals, they always get the preference of me ; they actually give them better measure; I was present and saw that. There is also a system of filling, which is a most fraudulent one, they call it arching. Are you aware that the same objection with respect to measure would apply to corn as well as coals?—- I am not competent to form an opinion. 1