§ Mr. Silkinasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the distress frequently caused to the recipients of chain letters, he will take steps to make the sending of chain letters through the post during the war an offence?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the type of chain letters which are not of the nature of illegal lotteries but prophesy misfortune to the breaker of the chain. I entirely share my hon. Friend's view as to the undesirable character of this type of chain letter which trades on ignorance and superstition and causes unnecessary suffering to the credulous. But it is not every mischief which is a fit subject for the criminal law, even in war time, and I cannot undertake to introduce legislation on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.