Humour of Taxes.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 46, 15 June 1917, Page 2

Humour of Taxes.

Amid a plethora of information relative to taxation that meets our gaze everywhere, it seems futile to look for any humour in conection with taxes. Finance does not sound funny. But look at this ! Lord North, in 1875, earned the nickname of “Old Soapsuds” for placing an extra yd. on lard and id. on soft soap !

Pitt gave a chance to the humorists the same year when he caused a tax to be levied on women servants. Sellers of gloves and mittens, likewise dealers , in perfumery, also had to pay a tax.

The year 1792 saw the repeal of the tax on women servants, the abolition of duties on houses having fewer than seven windows', and the repeal of additional tax of fd. a pound put on candles in 1784. Taxes reached their climax in 1811 —Waterloo year. At that time the plum-pudding tax, raised by an impost on raisins, realised £127.000.