§ 43. Commander Maitlandasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why the publication of "Ditty Box" has been discontinued.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsPublication of the "Ditty Box" was discontinued as a result of a serious fall in circulation and consequent financial loss. To cover the loss on production costs alone, it would have been necessary to have trebled the sales.
§ Commander MaitlandIs it not a fact that several commercial firms were prepared to push this paper with the Admiralty, and at no public expense? Is it not also a fact that the editor of "Ditty Box" was not consulted before action was taken?
§ Mr. EdwardsSo far as commercial firms are concerned, I do not think it is completely correct to say that they were prepared to undertake the publication of "Ditty Box" without any charge falling on public funds. As to the second part of the supplementary question, it was because of financial circumstances that the Admiralty decided that it was inadvisable to go on with the publication, despite what the editor may have thought.