HC Deb 04 July 1890 vol 346 c793
MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that there is a tax, in addition to the postage, on all English newspapers arriving in Austria, for instance, at Carlsbad and Merlan; whether such a tax is in contravention of the Postal Union Regulations; and whether he will make representations to have this tax removed, on the ground that no such tax is imposed on Austrian papers arriving in England?

*THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) Cambridge University

I explained this matter to the House in reply to a question asked by the hon. Member on June 7, 1888. The financial impost levied by the Austrian Government on foreign newspapers entering the Empire is not a postal charge, and is not levied under Postal Union Regulations, which, as I pointed out in 1888, do not affect the general taxation of the countries belonging to the Union.