Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/423



But, even if the Legislature had been disposed to consider the wailings of the Shipowners, or to listen

(Cries of "Bosh!") It has been proved further, that the entries inwards and clearances outwards—(confusion, "Hear, hear!" and "No!") It does not suit, you to hear the truth—you Protectionist shipowners! (Confusion.) I say it has been proved that the entries and clearances of British shipping have increased (cries of "Hear!" "No!" "Turn him out!") in a ratio equally as great as the tonnage built and registered. (The hon. gentleman was here met by a storm of indignant and discordant cries, among which were heard: "Go to Sunderland!" "Rubbish!" "Bosh!" "Sit down!") When order was restored the hon. member resumed as follows:—Mr. Bramley-Moore has referred to what he calls the advantages which Spain and France have gained by their protective system. (Uproar.) It is quite true that in the five years between 1853 and 1857 inclusive, no less than 600,000 tons of Spanish shipping entered and cleared our ports; but, on the other hand, it is equally true that, during the same period, no less than 1,700,000 tons of British shipping entered and cleared from Spanish ports. "Hear, hear!") What does Spain, therefore, gain by her system of protection? (Confusion, and a voice, "We can see all that in the 'Times.'") It is true that 3,900,000 tons of French shipping cleared for the ports of England during a similar period; but it is no less true that 10,000,000 tons of British shipping entered and cleared from the French ports. ("Hear, hear!" and "Question!") I could go on with many more facts to prove my case. I can prove to you by undeniable facts that the British shipping interest, however much it may be distressed at the present time, has been a gainer by the policy of Free-trade (shouts of disapprobation), and that it is not for your interest as Shipowners to reverse that policy. (Uproar.) You, no doubt, wish to confine your trade to your own possessions ("No, no!"), but what, I ask, would England be if it were not for the vast magnitude of her trade with foreign countries? (Cries of "Oh, oh!" "Hear, hear!" and "No, no!") On referring to the Customs' entries and clearances, it will be found that out of the 5,000,000 tons of British shipping annually so entered, 2,000,000 came from our own colonies and dependencies, but that no less than 3,000,000 of British shipping are entered from foreign countries ("Hear, hear!" and confusion), thus proving that our trade with foreign countries is much more valuable to us than the trade with our own possessions (cries of "Question!"); and thus proving, further, that our trade with foreign countries is of greater advantage, even to the British Shipowner, than our trade with our own colonies and dependencies. ("Question, question!") If instead of the resolution proposed you adopted such a resolution as I have]*
 * [Footnote: or more than double under Free-trade what it did under Protection.