asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of persons who have been employed by the betting duty branch of the Treasury for the purpose of selling revenue tickets on the racecourses of England; and can he state the salaries paid to these persons?

Mr. SAMUEL:

No staff is employed solely to sell revenue tickets on racecourses. It is not possible to ascertain without special inquiry the precise number of persons who may have been employed on such duties from time to time. Only the most important race-meetings are attended for this purpose. As a rule, not more than two officials attend each day. The officials who have been so employed have been either officers of Customs and Excise, salary £120–450, or clerical officers of the Customs and Excise Departmental Class, salary £60–250.

Are these officers sent from London, or are they employed by local branch offices?

Mr. SAMUEL:

I could not say off-hand. I should think they are sent from the most convenient centre.

Is it not exposing these low-paid officers to undue temptation to send them on to racecourses in this way?

Mr. SAMUEL:

These gentlemen do not yield to temptation.