Tennent to Under-Secretary of State
Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade
Whitehall
13th October 1865
Sir,
I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd Instant, transmitting for the consideration of this Department, a copy of a Despatch from the Governor of British Columbia, enclosing a copy of an Ordinance passed by the Legislature of that Colony, entitled "An Ordinance to amend the Duties on Customs," and various other Despatches mentioned in the margin of your letter and having reference to this subject.
In reply I am to request youtoManuscript image to inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that although My Lords see no reason to object to the average rate of Customs duties charged by the Act in question, there are certain articles upon which the amounts levied are unusually high, and attaching principally to articles of food of first necessity—they are calculated seriously to affect the price to the Colonial consumer
But Mr Seymour argues that the directness of the transit, & consequent cheapening of freight, will counterbalance the increase of duty.
of such articles as Beans, Candles, Cheese, Drugs, Chemicals, Dried Fish &c, upon which the high rates in question are levied.
My Lords are not however prepared on these grounds to recommend the non confirmation of the Act by Her Majesty, more especially as the objections which appear to have been raised to its operation, emanate from parties whocanManuscript image can only be regarded as temporary residents in the Colony.
The printed enclosures which accompanied your letter are herewith returned as requested.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant
J. Emerson Tennent
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Sir F. Rogers
See Treasury 10639.
[VJ]