§ 107. Sir JOHN HASLAMasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the abolition of the man-servant tax, in view of its small revenue to the county authorities and in order to encourage people to employ male servants?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs has been explained on several previous occasions, the Male Servant Licence Duty is not an Imperial but a Local Taxation Duty, and I am afraid that I could not undertake to introduce legislation which would deprive local authorities of part of their revenue unless I were sure of their unanimous consent, and that a demand would not be made upon the Exchequer to replace the revenue surrendered.
§ Sir J. HASLAMSeeing that it is such a small return for the county authorities and such a large charge on the national Exchequer when these men are out of work, will the right hon. Gentleman consult the local authorities and at the same time consider the cost to the national Exchequer?