M « Jrra ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN. 183 WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS THE CAUSE OF HIS OPPOSITION R—' THE FACTORS WISH TO BUY AND SELL WITH WHAT MEASURES THEY PLEASE; AND THEY, PERHAPS, WOULD NOT LESSEN THE PRICE OF THEIR COALS ONE PENNY IF THE COAL- METERS WERE DISCONTINUED. DO NOT YOU THINK IF THE SALE OF COALS WAS TRANSFERRED FROM THE SHIPS TO THE COAL- FACTORS YARDS, THAT A GREAT MONOPOLY WOULD ARISE IN THAT ARTICLE ?— I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THERE WOULD, BECAUSE THE CAPTAINS OF SHIPS COMING IN WISH TO SELL THEIR CARGOES QUICKLY, AND BRING A FRESH CARGO; WHEREAS, IF THE COALS WERE ALL IN FACTORS YARDS, THE FACTORS MIGHT KEEP UP THE PRICE, AND THEREBY CREATE A MONOPOLY. Luna, 26° die Maii, 1823. SIR ROBERT SHAW, BARONET, IN THE CHAIR. Mr. Timothy Allen. \ ( 23 May.) Mr. Richard Oulton, CALLED IN; AND EXAMINED. WHAT SITUATION DO YOU HOLD IN DUBLIN ?— I HOLD THE SITUATION OF ASSISTANT IN- SPECTOR AND BOOK- KEEPER TO THE COAL ESTABLISHMENT UNDER THE GUILD OF MERCHANTS. HOW LONG HAVE YOU HELD THAT SITUATION ?— ABOUT SIXTEEN YEARS. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF YOUR SITUATION ?— THE NATURE OF MY SITUATION IS TO KEEP A REGULAR ROSTER, OR TALLY OF THE MEN, TO ENTER THEM DOWN REGULARLY AS THEY ARE CLEARED ON THE SHIPS; AND WHEN THE CAPTAINS COME TO THE OFFICE I ENTER THEIR NAMES AND THEIR SHIP. WHAT IS THE MODE OF YOUR APPOINTMENT?— I AM APPOINTED UNDER THE GUILD OF MERCHANTS. IN WHAT MANNER ?— BY ELECTION. THEY ADVERTISE THAT THERE IS A VACANCY, AND THE MERCHANTS MEET TO BALLOT; AND IT WAS BY A MAJORITY OF BALLOTS IN THE GUILD OF MERCHANTS THAT I WAS ELECTED. THE DUTIES OF YOUR SITUATION AT FIRST WERE MERELY TO KEEP THE TALLIES ?— YES, TO KEEP TALLIES, AND ENTRIES OF THE SHIPS, AND TO PLACE THE COAL- METERS ON THEIR RESPECTIVE DUTIES. HAS NOT SOME ADDITIONAL DUTY BEEN ADDED ON THE PART OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE ?— YES ; THE CAPTAINS GO TO THE CUSTOM HOUSE AND MAKE A SHIP- ENTRY, AND BRING THE DOCKET OF THAT ENTRY TO MY OFFICE. I AM OBLIGED TO ENTER THE CAPTAIN'S SHIP AND HIS NAME IN MY BOOK, AND PUT MY NAME ACROSS THE ENTRY, WHICH MAKES IT HIS ORDER FOR DISCHARGING; WITHOUT MY NAME ACROSS IT HE WOULD BE PREVENTED FROM DISCHARGING BY THE CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICERS. DO YOU DERIVE ANY ADDITIONAL EMOLUMENT FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THAT DUTY ?— NONE WHATEVER. WHEN THE VESSEL IS CLEAR, THE CAPTAIN BRINGS ME THE SAME LANDING- ORDER AGAIN, AND I AM OBLIGED TO ENTER THE QUANTITY OF COAL DISCHARGED ON THE BACK OF THE ORDER; FROM THAT INDORSEMENT HE PAYS THE ENTIRE DUTY AS IT IS THERE—[ here witness produced a written document, showing the manner in which it was done]— AND WITHOUT THAT DISCHARGE HE CANNOT GET CLEARED OUT. FORMERLY IT USED TO BE DONE BY A SUR- VEYOR AND LANDWAITERS ON THE QUAYS; THE COMMISSIONERS OF CUSTOMS DISSOLVED THAT ESTABLISHMENT, AND THEN TRANSFERRED THE BUSINESS TO THE JERQUERS OFFICE. THE FIRST THING I DID AT THAT PERIOD, WHEN I CAME TO MY OFFICE EACH MORNING, WAS TO MAKE A RETURN TO THE JERQUER'S OFFICE OF THE NUMBER OF SHIPS THAT COAL- METERS HAD BEEN DEMANDED FOR THE DAY BEFORE, AND TO MAKE A RETURN OF WHAT SHIPS WERE CLEARED. THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ABOLISHED THIS OFFICE ENTIRELY, AND THREW ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY UPON ME, AND FOR WHICH, AS I HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, I RECEIVE NO REMUNERATION FROM THE REVENUE, THOUGH A GREAT DEAL OF EXPENSE HAS BEEN SAVED BY ADOPTING THESE REGULATIONS. IT APPEARS BY THIS RETURN THAT THE SHIP GOOD INTENT IS STATED TO HAVE CONTAINED 141 TONS OF COALS; AND IN YOUR HANDWRITING IT APPEARS THAT IT CONTAINED 181; WHAT IS THE REASON OF THAT DIFFERENCE ?— THAT IS THE AMOUNT AS ENTERED IN THE LANDING- ORDER; THEY WERE FORMERLY IN THE HABIT OF PAYING DUTY FOR NO MORE; AND WHEN THE COM- MISSIONERS OF WIDE STREETS AND THE COMMISSIONERS OF CUSTOMS CALLED UPON OUR ESTABLISHMENT TO MAKE THE RETURNS, THEY FOUND THAT THE CAPTAINS DID NOT PAY WITHIN ONE THIRD OF WHAT THEY OUGHT, AND IT IS IN CONSEQUENCE OF MY RETURN TO THE CUSTOM HOUSE THAT THAT INCREASE OF DUTY IS PAID. THE COMMITTEE ARE TO INFER FROM YOUR ANSWER, THAT THE DUTY WHICH YOU DO FOR THE CUSTOM HOUSE TENDS VERY MATERIALLY TO INCREASE THE DUTIES WHICH ARE PAID ?—- THE INCREASE IS ABOUT 14,000?. A- YEAR. 549- 3 C Is Mr. Richard Oulton. ( 26 May.) £:| I I if! HI M • II