§ MR. HYDE (Wednesbury)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the growing practice amongst English traders (owing to the advantage of four per cent. in the postage) of sending to be posted on the Continent, with five centime stamps, certain of their 518 circulars intended for delivery within the United Kingdom; and whether, to prevent the consequent loss to the Post Office due to the division of postage and to secure the like benefit to the trader, he will authorise postmasters to receive and stamp with ½d., such circulars posted in large quantities at the rate of 500 to the £1.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) There is no reason to think that the practice referred to in the Question is adopted to any appreciable extent; and I am inclined to doubt whether the slight saving in postage which could be effected would counter-balance the various items of expense involved in sending circulars abroad to be posted. I do not consider it advisable to reduce the rate of postage on inland circulars posted in large quantities.