asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the number of hawkers' licences issued since the imposition of the £10 tax on travelling shops, and if the imposition of this tax has effected a reduction in the number of hawkers carrying on business in the Free State.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hawkers' Licences.
The number of hawkers' licences issued between the 1st of August, 1930, and the 31st of January last at the respective rates of duty was as follows:— 468 at the £10 rate; 217 at the £2 rate. Total, 685.
The number of licences issued for the current financial year is greater than the total for any of the three previous financial years, due to the fact that a large number of persons who did not formerly pay any duty were caught by the provisions of Section 12 of the Finance Act, 1930.
These persons mainly consist of (a) hawkers using motor vehicles who now pay £10 duty and who paid nothing prior to the 1st August, 1930, and (b) hawkers who travel from their usual place of residence to another place and there sell from a booth, stall, etc., on fair and market days. It is thought that the imposition of the £10 duty has probably resulted in reducing the total number of hawkers.
When this tax was being imposed the general impression was created that it was being imposed in order to reduce effectively the number of travelling shops throughout the country. It seems to be evident from information at my disposal anyhow that it has had the very opposite effect —that the number of travelling shops has increased considerably during the past year. It is quite evident therefore that this tax has been more or less an indirect charge on the consumer.
Is the Deputy making a speech?
Under these circumstances, will the Minister consider abolishing this tax altogether, as it has had the opposite effect to the one it was thought it would have when imposed?
I do not know anything about the circumstances.
I should like to ask the Minister if this tax is being imposed simply for revenue purposes.
That was discussed during the Budget.
Will the Minister differentiate between the people with shops and the people who have no shops?
I have no statistics that show any distinction.