§ MR. STAPLETONsaid, he would beg to ask the Postmaster General, Whether he will be prepared at the commencement of the financial year to reduce the postage on newspapers, so as materially to facilitate their circulation in the rural districts?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONin reply, said, he had not the power, even with the consent of the Treasury, under the present Act of Parliament, to authorize the transmission of anything by post unless charged 1d. The subject, however, had been under consideration, and when the hon. Member for Liverpool 1189 (Mr. Graves) should bring forward his Motion, he believed next week, he should be in a position to state whether the Government would be prepared to bring in a Bill to enable the Post Office to transmit newspapers, and, perhaps, under certain circumstances, other printed matter for a less charge than 1d.