§ MR. BAINBRIDGEI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, in view of the fact that the periodic journals of scientific societies do not enjoy the same postal rates as are granted to weekly publications registered as newspapers (the cost incurred on the former being a tax 29 on the dissemination of valuable and useful knowledge by scientific societies, and detrimental to the advancement of scientific industries), the Postmaster General will consider the advisability of arranging that the postage on publications of scientific societies shall be at the same rates as are in force for registered newspapers.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HANBURY,) PrestonIt is estimated that the concession in the matter of postage which has been accorded to newspapers results in a loss to the Post Office revenue, and in these circumstances the Postmaster General would not feel justified in taking steps for extending the concession to other publications. The lion. Member might perhaps be interested by reading, if he has not already done so, a Report made by a Departmental Committee and presented to Parliament in January, 1897, on the question of extending the newspaper post. (House of Commons Paper, No. 39 of 1897.)