Two Bob Tax on Babies,

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 14 January 1916, Page 3

Two Bob Tax on Babies,

In the near future all sorts of curious things may be taxed to raise money for carrying on the war. Taxes of the past may furnish some useful hints in raising revenue, for in the days gone by some novel ways of getting money were devised. Once there was a tax of 2s on every baby born in England except to paupers ; now most little strangers come into the world with a “ present of 30s from Mr Lloyd George. ” Queen Elizabeth put a tax of 3s 4d on every beard of a fortnight’s growth, Pitt taxed incomes, horses and windows. Gloves and wigs have been subject to taxation; while at one time or another serious suggestions have been made to tax boots, baths, hats, lamps and even umbrellas and perambulators to say nothing of bachelors, spinsters, bicycles and cats. Lord Randolph Churchill once suggested a penny Revenue stamp being pasted over the shot end of all sporting cartridges. As 70,000,000 of these were used every year the national resources would have benefited by £280,000. But the proposal was never carried out.