§ Mr. Cooperpresented the Petition of John R. Johnstone, of the firm of Johnstone and Co. newspaper agents, of Dublin, complaining of the unfair advantage possessed by the Clerks of the Roads in Ireland, in serving newspapers; and praying, that this official monopoly, striking at the root of private industry and enterprise should be put an end to.
§ Mr. Henry Grattansaid, he must support the prayer of the petition, as he considered the privileges of the Clerks of the Roads a great hardship upon the private traders.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, that without giving any opinion as to the contents of the petition, he felt quite sure, that the noble Lord at the head of the Post Office Department would pay every attention to it.
Mr. Humesaid, that all public servants in England, as well as in Ireland, ought to be prevented from dealing in newspapers. If the Government did not feel the propriety of putting a stop to this traffic, it would be his duty, or the duty of some other hon. Member, to take the sense of the House on the subject.
§ The Petition to be printed.