§ MR. J. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether it is intended to introduce a short Bill admitting periodicals issued at intervals exceeding seven days, including reviews, magazines, and trade organs, to the privilege of postage at a halfpenny per copy as registered publications; whether he is aware that high class and useful literature of this kind is conveyed either gratis, or at specially reduced rates, by the American and Colonial Post Offices, with a view to encourage the diffusion of learning and useful information; and whether he will consult the Colonial Postmasters General as to the beneficial results to the public of such gratuitous or assisted circulation, especially in promoting religion and morality, in imparting technical knowledge, and also in enabling home manufacturers to meet foreign competition?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonThere is no intention to introduce such a Bill. Periodical publications of all kinds are conveyed either gratis, or at specially reduced rates, by the American and some (so far as is known only two) Colonial Post Offices; but successive Postmasters General of the United States have drawn attention to the great loss arising from these low rates, and in the last Report issued by the United States Post Office the Postmaster General expressed his earnest hope that some Measure might be passed during the coming Session of Congress which would remedy this state of things. The Postmaster General of Canada is, it is understood, introducing a Bill at the present time with a similar object. Under these circumstances, the Postmaster General does not think it necessary to consult the Colonial Postmaster Generals as to the beneficial results of such gratuitous or assisted circulation of periodical publications.