§ MR. A. M. BROOKFIELD (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the announcements that have been made as to its being the intention of Her Majesty's Government to give greater encouragement to the civil employment of Reserve and discharged soldiers, he will consider the expediency of remitting or abating the cost of licences to employ servants in cases where the persons so employed shall be Reserve or discharged soldiers?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI am unable to assent to the proposal of the hon. Member. These licences go to the benefit of the ratepayers, and I see a great difficulty in altering them, except at the wish of the Authorities who would lose by the alteration. Moreover, the remission or abatement suggested could not be so checked as to prevent evasion, without necessitating inquiries which would, in most cases, be felt to be much more irksome than taking out a licence which only costs 15s. in the year. I doubt if the discharged soldiers would profit by the change.