§ Mr. DAYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks of the magistrate at Old Street, E.C., in which he stated that the Christmas share-out or loan clubs were becoming an ever-increasing Christmas scandal, and that it was imperative that there should be some means of looking after them; and will he consider the appointment of a Departmental committee for the purpose of investigating the methods adopted by various clubs, and further consider the introduction of legislation which will have as its object their registration and regulation?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEAfter looking into this matter, I am afraid that I am driven to the same conclusion as my predecessors, namely, that any attempt at State control of these clubs would be ineffective.