Chiswickite - formerly The Croydonian

From 1859:

The Fireworks Act Amendment

"THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (The Gladstone) said, that the clause proposed to extend the provisions of the existing law, so as to give power to justices to grant a search warrant to enter any house where fireworks were kept, and, if any fireworks were there found, to destroy them. This was a somewhat arbitrary power, and he was informed by the police authorities that they did not consider it necessary".

Bit outside his brief, isn't it? Still, good that at least the Plod had to apply for a search warrant. And the Met turning down the chance of more powers? Blimey.

MR. JOHN LOCKE (Not that one. Lib, I think) explained that the necessity for the Bill had arisen from the accidents which were lately caused in South-wark and Lambeth by the keeping of fireworks in buildings where it was dangerous to have them.

MR. EDWIN JAMES (Lib - and the first silk disbarred, apparently) objected to the provisions which authorized the seizing and destroying of fireworks.

Redcoats getting the shaft, then as now:

COLONEL TAYLOR said, he had been informed that the officers of those militia regiments which had been called out for twenty-one days' drill had been charged income tax upon their pay. He was afraid that such deductions from the miserable pay of a militia officer would make the service unpopular.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER said, that the officers of the Revenue Department had no option but to call upon them to pay the income tax on all their incomes; and neither those officers nor himself had the slightest power to grant exemption or order a remission.

Probably right, but still a tad mean.

Labels: a thousand years ago, arms and the man, Taxes

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