§ 32. Sir C. RAWSONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in consequence of the Betting Tax a certain sporting newsagency has discontinued the use of 80 telephone circuits, involving a loss to the revenue of approximately £120 a week, and the discharge of 40 employés who will be thrown on the unemployment market; and whether he will publish at. the end of a quarter or a half year from the operation of such duty particulars of such total losses as he is able to trace which are attributable to the same cause?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI am aware that a sporting newsagency has given notice to terminate its agreement for 79 circuits. In the normal course some 26,000 agreements are terminated every quarter for reasons which are not recorded. I am not prepared to authorise the labour which would be required to ascertain and classify the causes of cessations.