Page 44 - WW1 - 1916

Redditch Local History Society Remembering Redditch Residents & WW1

th
The Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger – Saturday 13 May
1916

Patrons of theatres, music halls, cinemas, concerts, and most other forms of
entertainment will on Monday next and thence forward be called upon to contribute the
entertainment tax imposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to help to meet the cost of
the war. Proprietors have taken a very natural course, and have unanimously decided that
the tax shall be paid by the public, and at their decision no one will grumble, because it was
anticipated from the first that, although the management would be held responsible for the
payment of the money to the authorities they would be as it were, merely tax collectors.
From the outset the tax was intended as an additional burden upon the public, and generally
speaking the people do not expect the tax to be borne by those who cater for the public
amusement. The tax varies according to the price of the seat occupied. A twopenny seat
will cost the patron a halfpenny tax; a fourpenny or sixpenny seat will cost a penny; between
sixpence and half a crown, twopence; up to five shillings, threepence; to 7s.6d., sixpence; to
12s.6d., a shilling; and an additional shilling for every ten shillings or fraction of ten shillings.

Page: 44 © RLHS 2014