House of Assembly (1852, 1853) The Acts of the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island 1852, 1853. [R.G. 3 SSS, Vols. 22, 23]; [Report of Debates] ’Export duty on juniper knees’. Hazard’s Gazette, Charlottetown. 18 June 1853, p. 2.; 22 June 1853, p. 2; 2 July 1853, p. 2.

In 7853 the island ’3 House of Assembly, after a lively and partisan debate, passed an act that placed a duty of one shilling on every juniper [i. e. tamarack] ship knee that was exported from the colony. The debate on the matter, as reported in Hazard's Gazette, provides a number of useful insights into current opinions on lumbering and ship- building on the island. It reveals that American entrepreneurs had already been exporting juniper knees from the island in some quantity, such that, the year before, a duty of three pence per knee had been imposed. This however had proved to be ineffective, and so had led to the proposal to raise the duty four-fold to one shilling. The debate was politically partisan with most Conservative members of the Assembly supporting the duty so as to reserve the knees for the island ’3 ship—building industry, while most Liberals opposed the duty on the grounds that it would cause a serious loss of income to many small farmers, and would also be an unjust restriction on the farmer’s right to do as he wished with his own property — an interesting reversal of roles {as was acknowledged in the debate) since it was the Conservative party that was usually the staunch defender of property rights, as is evident from their backing of the proprietoria/ landholding system. In the debate the Conservatives also extolled the benefits of the ship-building industry to the economy of the island, while Liberals retorted that it had brought little benefit to the common farmer. There are also quite a number of comments on the importance of tamarack in ship—building, and on the wasteful harvesting procedures that were sometimes used, with only the knees being removed and the rest of the tree being left to rot or subsequent/y burn in the forest fires that frequently occurred. In the end the passage of the Act had a limited effect on account of its being overtaken the following year by the Reciprocity Treaty which removed all trade barriers between the British North American colonies and the United States.

1852: The Acts of the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island, 1852.

7852" duty 0’ 3"" XV Victoria C. 26. An Act for raising 6 Revenue [3 April 1852] [p. 162]

’.m [7.08801 on [From a lengthy table of the duties on commodities]: /un/per knees.

On all Juniper Knees exported after E s. d. The First Day of July next, each 0 O 3 [p. 166]

[There is no other mention of juniper knees in the Act.]

1853:

Hazard’s Gazette, Charlottetown. 18 June 1853, p. 2. Colonial Legislature. House of Assembly, Monday March 21 1853. House in Committee on Ways and Means — Mr. Haviland in the Chair.

EXPORT DUTY ON JUNIPER KNEES.

7853: a higher

Hon. Mr. [Edward] PALMER. I am quite sensible of the necessity of imposing a high duty proposed.

export-duty on Juniper-knees. I know, however, that it will be objected to on the score that the imposition of such a duty will be an inroad upon the private rights of individuals; and that nothing ought to be held more sacred and inviolate, by legislators, than such rights. But there are exceptions to all rules; and, as respects this duty, although it may, at first sight appear to be for the benefit of a class, yet upon more consideration it will be evident that~the prosperity of the Colony being most M WI” benefit intimately connected with it—the prevention of the exportation of Juniper-knees will the 00’0”)” prove quite as beneficial to the people in general, as to the Ship-builders; although the

296