§ Mr. INSKIPasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the serious effect of the high postal rates upon employment in the printing industry; and whether he can give the figures relating to unemployment in the industry immediately before the last increase of postal rates and at the present time?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAon 10th June, 1921, immediately before the alteration in the postal rate for primed matter, the number of workpeople in the printing, publishing, and bookbinding trades registered at Employment Exchanges as unemployed was 20,757. The corresponding figure for 7th February last was 17,545. I am unable to say what the present figure would have been had postal rates not been increased in June last, nor am I in a position to confirm my learned Friend's contention.