§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)asked Mr. Chancellor of the 46 Exchequer, If there is any reason to believe that there is considerable neglect to take out game licences by persons who have only one or two days occasional shooting given them in the course of a season; and, whether, inasmuch as the shortest term for which a licence can now be obtained is for 14 days at a minimum cost of £1, arrangements could be made, with probable advantage to the Revenue, for the issue at post offices of single day or week licences for sums so moderate that the amount could not operate as a temptation to evade the law?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)There is reason to believe that there are a certain number of cases of neglect to take out game licences. It is the fact that the shortest period for which such a licence can be taken out is 14 days, and that the cost is £l. The result of allowing licences to be taken out for a fortnight only has not been very encouraging, the number of such licences being only 5,000, as against some 60,000 for the longer period. This being so, I am not sure that much advantage to the Revenue would arise from issuing licences for even shorter periods at lower sums. But I will consider the matter. In no ease could anything be done with regard to it before the Budget of nest year.