A Teddy Bear with a squeak is taxed; a Teddy Bear without a squeak is not taxed. This, the latest revelation regarding the absurdities of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, was disclosed in a debate in the House of Lords recently when Earl Beauchamp moved a resolution declaring that "the Act interferes with trade and increases prices, and that this House is of opinion it should be repealed forthwith."
Children's toys, he said, were particularly subject to taxation. Children's paints were held up for fear they harboured aniline dyes. He quoted a manifesto of the British Chemical Trades' Association saying that the Act was not even consistent, because it penalized products which were not made in England. It bristled with anomalies.
Lord Gorell said 14 complaints had been referred to Committees, 21 others had been made and rejected on the ground that no
out. prima deci ease had.been made The resolution was defeated by 36 votes to 34.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.