THE CASE OF THE Paper-Traders,
Humbly offer'd to the Honourable House of Commons.
WHEREAS there is a Bill now depending, for laying 25 l. per Cent. upon Paper, Parchment, Vellum and Pastboard to be imported; 20 l. per Cent. on English Paper, &c. and 17 l. 10 s. per Cent. on those Goods now (in Merchants and other Hands) to be sold; It's humbly conceiv'd that this Imposition will not raise 18000 l. per Annum, should the Consumption be as great as of late Years.
This will appear by considering the Annual Value made here, and imported the two last Years.
| l. | |
| There are not above 100 Paper-Mills, (the Company's excepted) which making Brown-paper, and the coarfest White, do not one with another annually make 200 l. worth, the Duty of this intended Imposition will be | 4000 |
| The Company do make about 8000 l. per Ann. the Duty on which will be | 1600 |
| The Vellum, Parchment and Pastboard made and expended here the last Year was not above 10000 l. and the Duty will be | 2000 |
| The Paper last Year imported was not worth 40000 l. (and much less will be brought in if this Duty be laid) and the Duty thereon will raise | 10000 |
| The Total | 17600 |
As for the Duty to be paid by Merchants and others for the Goods now in their Hands to be sold, this will raise an inconsiderable Sum; for it's reasonable to suppose that none but Merchants and Wholesale Stationers will be affected with this Duty, (seeing the Charge of Collecting from Retailers, dispersed throughout all Cities, Towns and considerable Villages in England, would be much more than the Tax thereby rais'd) and of these there are not above 35, in whose Hands there will not in all probability be found 16000 l. worth of these Goods. The Duty whereof, at 17 l. 10 s. per Cent. will be 2800
The Collection (in all Respects consider'd) will be chargeable to his Majesty, troublesome to his Officers, and very vexatious to the Makers, Merchants and Stationers.
But considering how much less will be consumed, if this Duty be laid, it's reasonable to think that the clear Tax next Year will searce raise 10000 l. and that for these Reasons.
First, The Paper-makers are generally very Poor, and now can scarce maintain their Families; but when (as by this Bill required) they must pay, or give Security for the Duty, before they Sell, this Manufacture will be so much lessen'd, that most of the Mills must be ruin'd, and the Makers with their Families become a Charge to their respective Parishes. The same may be said of the Parchment-makers.
Secondly; The Printing Trade now consumes the greatest part of the Paper; but if this Duty be laid, the Consumption will not be the half of what it now is, few Books (but what are of absolute Necessity) being now printed, by reason of the present Advance upon Paper, much less will then be able to bear the Charge of the Press, when so great a Duty shall be laid upon the Commodity. This will ruin some hundreds of Booksellers, Bookbinders, Printers, and others depending on that Trade. These things considered, the Decay will much reduce the Duty.
As for the Tax upon Goods now in Merchants and other Hands; for this (as is humbly conceived) there is no Precedent. In all Customs and Excise, there never yet was such a Retrospection: For tho it may be urg'd, that those possess'd of these Goods, would raise their Price proportionable to this Duty, altho by them not paid; yet it is to be consider'd, that those Merchants and Stationers will have Quantities of these Goods when the Duty ceases, and consequently their then Loss will be as great as their now Gain. Also they will hereby be liable to pay 17 l. 10 s. per Cent. for the Duty of 10 l. per Cent. already paid for Customs upon the Goods now in their possession.
Wherefore it's humbly hop'd that this Honourable House will think of some more effectual M [...] thod for the Sum hereby intended.
All which is humbly submitted to the Great Wisdom and Impartial Justice of Honourable House.