§ MR. EVELYN CECIL (Aston Manor)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he can state the number of British magazines or periodicals which have been sent from the United Kingdom to Canada before and since he instituted the Canadian magazine post a year ago, or give any other figures to show how far it has succeeded.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI am glad to say that the Canadian magazine post instituted last May is fully realising the objects for which it was instituted. It has led to a very great increase in the 1087 number of British magazines and periodicals sent from the United Kingdom to Canada. It is estimated that the number of British publications sent to the Dominion each week is now 170,000, which is at the rate of nearly 9,000,000 per annum. Of this number it is estimated that 115,000 per week equivalent to nearly 6,000,000 per annum represent the addition to the number due to the magazine post. The number of packets sent by the new post has shown a steady and continuous increase, and I am moreover informed, on good authority, that the increase has been greatest in the case of magazines of high class. This is I think not the least satisfactory feature of the new post.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEWhat is the pecuniary loss to the taxpayer?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONVery slight.
§ MR. HAROLD COX (Preston)What has been the cost of subsidising this industry?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTON; Perhaps the hon. member will defer his Question until the post has been in operation for a complete year.