HC Deb 12 March 1895 vol 31 cc892-3
SIR E. S. HILL (Bristol, S.)

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he now sees his way to affording the members of the credit draper trade any relief from the necessity of taking out Excise licences under the Hawkers Act, 1888, the hardships of which were set forth in a letter addressed to him by the Bristol Credit Drapers' Association on the 14th March 1894.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT,) Derby

I am afraid that there is no possibility of exempting this particular class. As Chancellor of the Exchequer, I have no interest in the hawkers' licences, as the money goes entirely to the local authority; and I am afraid that if I yielded to this demand I should expose myself to the wrath of the champions of the ratepayers, to whom this money belongs.