§ COLONEL STUART KNOXasked the Postmaster General, If he would state to the House on what grounds religious periodicals such as the "The Christian," and others of a like nature are refused the advantage of registration for transmission abroad, while monthly gazettes and magazines of fashion, and papers such as Mr. Bradlaugh's "National Reformer," are stated to have been restored to that privilege; and, whether a statement in the above-named weekly paper, "The Christian," is correct, viz, that no religious periodical unless it contain more news than religious matter is allowed full post office privileges?
§ MR. MONSELLSir, the Post Office Act of 1870, to which I would refer my 1787 hon. and gallant Friend, requires that a publication, in order to be registered as a newspaper, shall consist wholly or in great part of news. "The Christian" does not conform to the Act in that respect, and it cannot, therefore, be accepted for registration. All publications which have been registered as newspapers have been in conformity with the Act. I have not seen the statement in "The Christian," but, as I have already explained, "news," whether political or other news, must preponderate, in order to entitle the periodical to rank as a newspaper.
§ COLONEL STUART KNOXI may ask, Whether news such as the "May Meetings" and advertisements for servants do not come within the regulation?
§ MR. MONSELLI am afraid I must refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Legal Advisers of the Government. I am told the statement referred to does not come within the department of news, and I may remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the Post Office, at least, has no tests.