§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)asked the Postmaster-General whether it is the case that circulars and other printed matters open at both ends if in the third person are charged one half-penny, but if in the first person one penny; and, if so, on what grounds this differential rate is made.
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) Cambridge UniversityThere is, I think, some misapprehension on this subject. Circulars in identical terms, addressed to several persons, may be sent by book post at a postage of one halfpenny, whether in the first or in the third person; but no communications of the nature of a letter other than circulars are allowed to pass by book post, in whatever person they are expressed. Besides printed matter, accounts are permitted to pass by book post; but difficulty often arises from the senders printing or stamping on the accounts requests for payment, or other notes, which are clearly of the nature of letters. Impersonal statements as to the practices of a firm in regard to discount, interest, &c., are not objected to.
§ MR. HOBHOUSE (Somerset, E.)asked whether it is the fact that a 833 postage rate of one penny is charged for printed circulars (open to inspection) issued by Friendly Societies to their members, because the amount of contributions due is inserted in writing; if trading firms are allowed to send invoices and bills to their customers, the amounts due being written in every case, for the halfpenny rate of postage; what was the reason for this different treatment; and, whether he will alter the regulations so as to give Friendly Societies the same advantages as traders.
§ SIR E. BIRKBECK (Norfolk, E.)May I ask whether the attention of the right hon. Gentleman has been called to the fact that a Conference of delegates of Friendly Societies was held on Friday last, representing 1,965,000 members, and a capital of over £13,500,000; whether he is aware that the present system of charging one penny postage on Friendly Societies' circulars, containing particulars of arrears of members, and a request for payment, was on that occasion pronounced as unjust and unreasonable, and whether he will endeavour to come to an arrangement with the Friendly Societies' authorities on this question?
§ MR. RAIKESUnless circular letters are in identical terms, they are liable to the letter rate of postage. Traders enjoy no privileges which are not allowed to Friendly Societies, and printed circulars from a trader to his customers asking for payments due (with the varying amounts inserted) would be charged letter postage. Invoices and statements of accounts are, however, allowed to be forwarded at the book post rate, and I would suggest that any Friendly Society in which the hon. Member is interested should do what some others do—i.e., reduce their notices of subscriptions due to the form of accounts, in which case they are passed at the book post rate, circulars in identical terms either accompanying the accounts or not at the option of the Society. In reply to the question of my hon. Friend the Member for East Norfolk (Sir E. Birkbeck) my attention has been called to the meeting of the Conference, and I fully recognise the authority with which it pronounces an opinion. I endeavoured last year, when the Bill of the hon. Baronet the Member for the University of London (Sir John Lubbock) was before the House to 834 introduce some amendments into the law which might have met the wishes of these bodies, but the Bill was not discussed in the House nor was it finally approved by the Government. I shall be happy to confer with my hon. Friend and others interested in the matter, with a view to see how far a modification of the law can be introduced.