HC Deb 20 February 1900 vol 79 cc574-5
MR. LOYD () Berkshire, Abingdon

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether persons desirous of becoming efficient rifle shots by joining and practising with rifle clubs would have to obtain a 10s. licence to entitle them to use a rifle for such practice; and, if so, would he consider whether the tax could in such cases be remitted in order to encourage rifle practice throughout the country.

MR. BUTCHER () York

At the same time may I ask whether persons who are members of rifle clubs formed to encourage rifle shooting have to obtain a 10s. licence to entitle them to practice rifle shooting; and, if so, whether the Government will grant exemption from such tax to the members of such clubs, at any rate when the ritle club has been certified by a military authority duly authorised for that purpose to be a club bona fide formed to encourage rifle shooting.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.

The reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative; but I shall be quite prepared to concert with Lord Lansdowne some arrangement by which an exception may be made in favour of rifles belonging to clubs acting under the authority of the War Office and used solely for target practice under proper regulations.