§ MR. JACOBY (Derbyshire, Mid.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he would take into consideration the advisability of requiring all itinerant musicians to take out licences, such licences to be subject to endorsement by Superintendents of Police in respect of any breach of any bye-laws or regulations affecting such street musicians?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN, St. George's Hanover Square)I would remind the hon. Member that it is not really the function of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to impose taxes for social purposes; taxes are imposed only for the; purposes of raising revenue. If it be desirable for police purposes that licences should be taken out by the people alluded to—who, although I daresay they inflict excruciating torture upon some persons, yet to other persons do afford a limited amount of enjoyment—it would be for the Home Office, and not for the Exchequer, to move in the matter.