COLLECTING THE THEATRE TAX

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2821, 12 July 1916, Page 8

COLLECTING THE THEATRE TAX

FIRST t):YY IN LONDON. SAILOR AVHO RAID "HIT IT DOWN TO BILL KAISER." When the new theatre tax came into operation in Britain recently though in a few casns difficulties arose in the matter of giving change, there were as many theatre and picture-house goers as ever, and no general complaints except of a jocular kind were made,- states the "Daily Xewß." The booking-office clerks at several theatres—especially in the gallery and pit—said they were surprised at the readiness with which their customers paid the exact amount of the tax, and in tho case of tho more expensive seats the stamps were a source of interest. Experience will probably show, it was the general opinion, that the stamps and the strip ticket methods of collecting the tax will be the most popular. The reason is that in the theatres and music-halls which have nrranged to pay to the revenue on the statement of their returns no receipt is given at the booking-office for the mM coppei'3 and sixpences which represent the amount of the tax, and have to be paid in addition to the price of the ticket. Possiblv, however, as the operation of the tax becomes more widely known tho few explanations necessary yesterday will become even fewer. Only in pome of the smaller picture houses did the explanation over become an wgument. Olio of these, however, which a 'Daily News" representative overheard, vas Aiirtiiune. A 6ailor came into the booking hafl" with two girls at one p-'chiro palace near the Strand, and asked for three shilling tickets. "Three and six, please," ihe booking clerk askctl politely, as sho handed the eheck=. "What?" "Three and six, please—sixpence for the tax." "What tax?" "The Government tax." "Oh! Then give mo three sealo for my three hob, and put tho tax down to Bill Kaiser."