§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."—[Mr. Hayes.]
§ Mr. ALBERYI desire to raise a question which has been touched upon at Question Time by three or four Members on this side of the House but on which it was not possible to get an adequate explanation by means of question and reply across the Floor of the house. I refer to the advertisements of foreign products in British Government publications, and the one to which I particularly wish to draw attention is an advertisement which has appeared in the postage stamp books drawing attention to the desirability of purchasing foreign bacon. This book was circulated at a time when members of the Imperial Conference were in the country, and if they bought a book of stamps they probably found a recommendation that people should buy foreign bacon. Further, the Minister of Agriculture was introducing in this House an agricultural Measure asking for money from the State for the purpose of increasing production, and at the same 2353 time the Government was publishing this form of advertisement in a British Government publication. Quite apart from any question of politics, there is a very good reason why advertisements of this kind should not be accepted. Every publication has to give consideration to the kind of advertisement which it inserts. Obviously, there are many advertisements unsuitable for insertion in a respectable publication. There is always a certain amount of censorship. The Post Office, which is the principal 2354 offender in this matter, should exercise a certain amount of censorship in regard to the advertisements inserted in its publications. The Post Office is a national service, and is supported, in a sense, out of public funds by the taxpayers of the country.
§ Notice taken that 40 Members were not present; House counted, and 40 Members not being present—
§ The House was adjourned at Nine Minutes after Eleven of the clock until To-morrow.