§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the postage for an issue of the weekly Iron and Coal Trades Review weighing 1 lb. 15 oz., is only one halfpenny, while the postage on the monthly The Vulcan, weighing 6½ oz., is twopence; whether he will explain the principle upon which the postal authorities discriminate between two journals dealing with the same class of news and catering for the same class of readers, and advertisers; and whether he will consider the advisability of redressing this difference of treatment.
1948 (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) Under the Post Office Act of 1870 the prilvilege of transmission by post at the newspaper rate is limited, among other restrictions, to publications issued at intervals of not more than seven days. The Iron and Coal Trades Review conforms to this condition and is registered at the Post Office as a newspaper. In view of the fact that the newspaper post is unremunerative I am not prepared to introduce a Bill to extend the privilege to monthly publications.