HC Deb 15 February 1867 vol 185 cc451-2

Duty on Dogs considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

MR. HUNT

proposed the following Resolution:— That, in lieu of the Duties of Assessed Taxes on Dogs, there shall be granted and charged in respect of Dogs kept in England after the 5th day of April, 1867, or kept in Scotland after the 24th day of May, 1867, the following Excise Duties, to be paid annually upon the taking out of the Excise Licences hereinafter mentioned (that is to say): For and in respect of every Dog, of whatever description or denomination (except Hounds kept in a pack), for which a Licence to keep the same shall be taken out, the annual Duty of five shillings, to be paid by the person who shall keep such Dog; For and in respect of Hounds kept in a pack, for which a Licence shall be taken out,— Where the number shall not exceed twenty, the sum of five pounds; Where the number shall exceed twenty, and shall not exceed thirty, the sum of seven pounds and ten shillings; And where the number shall exceed thirty, then for every additional number of ten, and for any additional number less than ton, over and above thirty (or any other greater multiple than ten), the further additional Duty of two pounds and ten shillings; To be paid by the owner or master of the said hounds.

MR. AYRTON

said, he wished to know whether it was expected that under the alteration the duty would be more strictly levied, and that thereby the amount of the reduction would be made up?

MR. HUNT

said, he did not anticipate any loss of revenue but rather an increase, for under the present system the owners of dogs made the returns, and many dogs were not put down in them. It was not proposed to adopt a system of ticketing or registering dogs. The owners of hounds would have the option of taking out a licence for each dog, or taking out a licence for a pack.

After a few words from Mr. READ,

Resolution agreed to; to be reported on Monday next.