§ 76. Mr. CROOKSasked the Postmaster-General whether he can make any statement as to the results of his scheme for receiving and distributing books and magazines for the troops through the Post Office?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELSteps were taken to advertise to the public the scheme for providing books and magazines for the soldiers and sailors through the Post Office. Since then the number handed in has averaged 200,000 a week. Altogether about a million and a half books and magazines—a total weight of over 300 tons—have been supplied to the distributing organisations recognised by the War Office and the Admiralty. The cost to the Post Office has been trifling. There has recently been some decline in the supply of literature handed in by the public, but I trust this is only temporary, as a very large supply is required to meet the needs of the men at the front, in camp, in hospital, with the Fleet, and detained as prisoners of war.