HC Deb 17 August 1893 vol 16 cc419-20
MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer is he aware that a trader in Dundalk, finding himself this year assessed 10s. more than he was last year, remonstrated with the Income Tax official against the increase, and said that for the past year his business had not been as good as previously, adding, "To the truth of what I say I can swear"; that the official is alleged to have replied, "You could swear 20 oaths and then go to your priest and he'd forgive you"; that The Dundalk Herald, a Conservative organ, vouched for these facts on 29th July, and as they have not since been challenged will he take any notice of the language in question?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT,) Derby

The surveyor states that the trader in question, instead of making his objection to the assessment in a proper manner, addressed him (the surveyor) in the street on the subject, and made use of offensive language. This, of course, affords no justification for the language used by the official, who has received a severe official reproof.