240 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE Mr. for craners fees, inspecting and cooperage. I will read to the Committee the report Isaac Stewart. 0f the Council of the Chamber of Commerce upon the subject: " Of your Council's / transactions, those relating to the butter- crane of this city serve distinctly to indicate ( 30 May.) tj, e necessity of such measures as shall supersede the system on which our butter- trade has hitherto been conducted, by one more suitable to the importance, and better fitted to promote the prosperity of the trade. That the establishment on an independent basis, and under legislative sanctions, of a commercial crane, governed by wholesome regulations, and efficiently directed, forms the essential corrective to the evils by which this great branch of national industry has been hitherto depressed, is an opinion entertained by all who are practically acquainted with the trade, and sincerely interested for its improvement. Your Council's interference with a view to this object has been suspended, under an impression that such an interference on the part of achartered body, with a large available fund at its disposal, would be more consistent, and probably more effectual. They have accordingly bequeathed the matter to the care of their successors, by whom it will no doubt be taken up with the energy and perseverance necessary for its accomplishment. In the mean time your Council have endeavoured to effect the subordinate refor- mations of which the existing system appeared susceptible. Their strenuous recommendation to consolidate the several cranes of the city into one establishment, although unsuccessful when offered, has since been adopted, and with a result fully justifying the stress laid upon the measure ; your Council's endea- vours have been also employed to obtain a reduction in the excessive and illegal charges of the crane under the jurisdiction of the . Lord Mayor and Corporation. These charges have been found to operate with peculiar severity, at a period when the state of commerce generally, and of this branch in particular, renders the most rigid economy indispensable, while they have had a direct tendency to alienate a considerable part of the butter- trade from the capital to the rival and less expen sive out- ports. A deputation from the Council waited on the Lord Mayor, and a public meeting was consequently convened, at which the undue charges of the crane were expli- citly set forth. It was represented, that whereas the Act of Parliament for regulat- ing the butter- trade allows, in consideration of great expense and trouble for weigh- ing and branding every cask of butter, 2 d.; and for tasting, proving, and marking the quality, 1 d.; for the performance of those duties, 7 d. is actually levied, exclusive of a charge of 4 d. per cask for cooperage, indiscriminately exacted on good and bad casks, and for casks very inefficiently done. Crane cooperage may possibly improve a bad cask, but it is sure to injure a good one. The charge for cooperage ought to depend upon the condition of the cask; but levied without distinction, it virtually operates as an encouragement to the use of bad casks, and thus, doubtless, has contributed to banish Irish butter ( but particularly that from Dublin) from the foreign markets, to which it formerly had access, for in this branch of the trade especially it is obvious that the quality of the cask is a matter of the first import- ance. At the meeting in question, the practices complained of were admitted; the infraction of the Act of Parliament was admitted ; and an exercise of official autho- rity, such as might correct the abuses, by enforcing a compliance with legislative regulations, was promised, but there is reason to apprehend that to the present moment no step whatever has been taken for the purpose. The facts thus stated cannot fail to facilitate the measures necessary for remov- ing the evils which they so strongly exemplify."— You have given in a printed paper to the Committee on the subject of the charges on the importation of coals?— I have. By whom was that printed paper prepared ?— It was prepared by me. Are the Committee to understand that you have taken pains to ascertain the truth of all the sums charged in that printed paper ?— I have taken pains to ascertain it. Do you believe that every thing contained in it is true ?— No; there is an error I have already explained in my former examination, it is an overcharge in point of the quantity of coal. Is that the only error ?— That is the only error that I am aware of at present. Is the sum of 181,089/. to be supposed to be the extra charges, and the unfair charges, to which the city of Dublin is liable on the importation of coals?— Not all unfair; some of them are very proper and correct, and some of them I consider are not yorrect. Do