§ SIR JOHN GRAYsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he is aware that the authorities of the British Museum have issued a Circular requiring proprietors of Provincial Newspapers to deliver regularly to a Mr. Lethbridge, on behalf of the British Museum, and for the use of that 560 Institution, a gratuitous copy of each and every newspaper they publish, with the postage paid thereon, while up to this time these newspapers have been delivered to the local stamp distributors and paid for by them; and, whether this requisition is not contrary to the requirements of "The Copyright Act, 1845?"
§ MR. BAINESsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he is aware that since the passing of the "Newspapers Repeal Act, 1869," the proprietors of newspapers are subjected to inconvenience and expense owing to the appropriation of the titles of their newspapers by other persons, and the registry of such titles at Stationers' Hall under the Act 5 and 6 Vic. c.45; whether he will endeavour to prevent this piracy of title by the transfer to Stationers' Hall of the existing register at Somerset House, or otherwise; and, whether he will also provide the public with the same facilities for inspecting the register as were formerly afforded at Somerset House, as the officer at Stationers' Hall declines to allow the inspection—gratuitous or otherwise—even of the index of such register of newspapers there kept, unless applicants can furnish him with the title of the particular newspaper for which they wish to search?
§ MR. AYRTON, in reply, said, as this was a question involving matters of considerable importance to the public Press, he might be permitted to give a somewhat full answer to these inquiries. Up to the commencement of the present Session the periodical Press was subjected to two separate systems of law— one imposed for the purpose of collecting taxation upon the Press, and for the purpose of repressing supposed abuses in the publication of libels. That branch of law, with one or two exceptions, had been entirely repealed; but proprietors of newspapers were still at liberty to have stamps impressed upon their newspapers, if they so desired, in order to circulate them through the Post Office. The other branch of law affecting the Press was that with regard to copyright. The Copyright Act had not been in any way affected by the change that had been made this Session, and newspapers were still entitled to all the privileges which the Copyright Act gave them. That Act required as a condition of such 561 privileges that any persons publishing any printed matter should deliver a copy to the British Museum, and up to the present time the authorities of the British Museum had been in the habit of making use of the Inland Revenue Department for the purpose of receiving the newspapers they desired to preserve in its library. In consequence of the repeal of the law, however, the British Museum was now thrown back upon its more appropriate rights under the Copyright Act, and it was, therefore, to that Act that the newspaper Press and the British Museum must look respecting their relations with one another. In consequence, therefore?, of what had been done in the present Session, the British Museum had issued a Circular to the Press calling their attention to the Copyright Act and the necessity of delivering copies of their publications to the British Museum, They were required at their own cost to take care that the British Museum should receive copies of every number of a newspaper. In order to facilitate this transmission, the British Museum had employed a gentleman who! was constantly in communication with the periodical Press in the office of Messrs. Smith, but if any gentleman chose he might send his newspaper direct to the British Museum. So far as the British Museum was concerned, it was a convenience to them that the newspapers should not be sent by post on each day of issue, and the transmission would be more economical in parcels at intervals of three or more months, provided that full and complete files of the paper were furnish from time to time. Under the Copyright Act, undoubtedly, everyone was entitled to search for any newspaper that might be entered, and if the persons at Stationers' Hall did not give facilities for such a search for the fee of 1s. they were in fault. An entry of a newspaper once for all entitled it to the privileges conferred by the Act, and if any other person made a false entry the Copyright Act contained strong provisions applicable to such a case.