§ MR. EVELYN CECIL (Aston Manor)To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to a speech by Mr. Lemieux, the Canadian Postmaster-General, at Ottawa, on the 20th November, announcing that it would be his privilege before long to give British periodicals and newspapers from this country to Canada preference over similar United States publications by granting them a cheaper rate of postage; and whether he can make any statement on the subject.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I read with satisfaction the short summary of the speech of Mr. Lemieux in reference to the question of the position of British periodicals, magazines, and newspapers in Canada. It is a question to which, as the hon. Gentleman is, I think, aware, I have given a good deal of attention. Some months ago I made certain proposals to the Dominion Government with the object of placing British periodicals, magazines, and newspapers on a more satisfactory basis in Canada than they now enjoy as compared with those coming from the United States. Under the present system, and under the existing rates of postage, they are practically driven out of the market by their American rivals, to the detriment of the imperial and commercial connection. The proposals which I made, but which t am not at present at liberty to state publicly, have been met in a very friendly spirit by the Dominion Government and by Mr. Lemieux, who, I know, is as anxious as I am myself to bring about 1199 a satisfactory solution. I am afraid I cannot add more at the present moment.