§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that a serious loss will be entailed upon the proprietors of the principal Australian weekly journals by the imposition of the new 2½d. rate of postage, which came into operation on 1st July; and whether it is possible under the existing law to allow Australian journals having publishing offices in London to be registered for circulation within the United Kingdom, so as to reap the benefit of the ordinary ½d. rate instead of being charged the present fee of 2½d; and, if not, whether he can hold out any hope of such an amendment of the law in that respect as will remedy the grievance referred to?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. A. MORLEY,) Nottingham, E.The charge of 2½d. referred to in the first part of the question is that made for a newspaper weighing from 8 to 10 ounces when sent from Australia to this country. The postage is the same as that payable on a newspaper of like weight sent hence to Australia. I have no knowledge how the decision of the Colonial Governments to adopt this rate 113 will affect Australian newspaper publishers. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave him on the 19th June last. I cannot see my way to recommend any such alteration of the law as the question suggests.