• ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN, 319 Do you mean to say that that 181,089?. is what the citizens of Dublin pay for their coal above any other city importing the same quantity ?— Yes, above any city importing the same quantity, and not liable to " the same description of charts. Are those charges upon the consumers of coal in Dublin to which the inhabitants • of other cities are not liable?— They are charges that the city of Dublin is liable to, that Manchester or Glasgow is not liable to, or any inland town in England. The first item in this paper is 6d. a ton upon a certain number of tons of- coals; that is the error that you allude to; the sum there mentioned is 6,686 I. 15 s. how much ought that to be?— 1 cannot say; but I know the quantity of tons has been over- rated. What do you mean by artful measurers ?— I mean the man in the hold of the vessel who fills the tubs. In point of fact, from whom do they receive that 6d. per ton?— If the ship was consigned to me I would have to pay one half, and the captain the other half. Besides the coal- meters?— Yes. To whom would you pay it?— To the man in the hold of the vessel who fills the tubs. To the crew of the vessel ?— No; the crew are not bound to do it. You state that the sum paid for that amounts to 6,686/. 15s.?— Yes. In point of fact, is there any right in any human being to demand that sum?— No right, unless they are employed to do the work. If you do not choose to employ them to do the work, need you do it?— If a person is employed to do that work, without making any particular agreement as to the price of his labour, he will be entitled to receive the 6d. a ton. Is that the name by which they go ?— They are called measurers of coals, but there are not a great many porters on the quay that are completely up to that science. Is the meaning of the term, artful measurer, a. man that has the knack of making a small quantity of coal fill a larger measure ?— Yes. Then the Committee are to understand from you, that the consumer pays that man for diminishing the quantity which he himself is to receive ?— The seller pays it, and the consumer pays the seller. Then the consumer pays those artful measurers for diminishing the quantity of coals purchased by himself ?— It is the seller that pays it; it therefore is an increase of the first cost of the article. Then the seller bribes a person to measure falsely ?— I do not say there is any • thing wrong cin paying the sum that the Lord Mayor and the magistrates wouid award to them. Do you mean to say that the Lord Mayor or the magistrates would ever award that sum ?— I do mean to say, that if he is employed they would enforce the . payment ot'Gd. a ton, provided he made no particular agreement with him as to price; it is the act of the owner of the ship, and it is the customary price that they receive. Then there is a good deal of skill shown by different measurers in defrauding the public in the measurement of coals ?— There is a good deal of skill in the measuring of coals. I will not call it defrauding the public, because it is the custom of Dublin. May not a custom be a fraudulent one in point of fact, if it is by skill to make a small quantity of coal fill a larger measure ; do not you call that a fraud on the consumer?— I should say, if a smaller quantity be artfully put into the measure than ought to be, it is a fraudulent practice. How is that fraud to be best prevented ?— By delivering coals by weight instead of by measure. Are you of opinion that delivering coals by weight would be an advantage to the consumer.-— I am. I have been asked respecting the rates charged in the fruit- market. I will deliver in a paper containing the rates. [ The Witness delivered in the same, zvhich xvas read as follows:] The charge ( exclusive of stands or stallage) rated 011 fruit is as follows : d. Raspberries per dozen of noggins ------ 1 Baskets of currants, cherries, strawberries, or gooseberries - - 1 Kish of ditto --------- 5 Hand- basket of small fruit ------- 14. Small clive of ditto -------- 1 549. 3 P Second