The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-20 00:00:00

rather higher class. The Age, tho Satirist, the Argtrs,
!!- which eniepsl con,Fier rites! gems yeare
agog; but thcee have all ceased to exist. (Hear, hear.)
And it may be broadly stated that licentious publications
in this country have not long enjoyed any extensive circu-
lation. But there has been another objection raised to
this proposal—that there will be one press for the rich and
another for the poor—one for the (wealthy classes, for the
upper classes; and the other, the cheap newspaper, for
the lower classes. To a certain extent that state of things
exists at present. There are newspapers alike printed
at a cheap rate and are taken in exclusively, by the
poorer classes. Two of these were ' called the News of
the lVorld and Lloyd's Tireek,ly Newspaper, and these
have the largest circulation after the Times. This great
circulation is due to the fact that the price of the paper
is threepence. But even with these 'emits it may be
doubted if there will be reason to regret it—if a class of
newspapers grow up which are moral and useful in their
tendencies it may be of advantage to have them circulating
among the poorer elaeses of society. We are not to assume
that a class of newspapers will be addressed to the public
which will be tainted by immoral or anti-social doctrines
—(hear, hear) ;—and those who devote themselves to the
education and instruction of our population will here find a
field for their labours. That the present necessity of ism
peeing a stamp on every copy of a newspaper is iu some
instances detrimental to the revenue is shown by an ex-
tract from a letter published by the noble lord the mem-
ber for Leeds. (The right hon. gentleman read an extract
stating that the proprietor of a small paper published once
a fortnight preferred sending a messenger round to deliver
his paper to stamping it and sending it by the post, where-
by the revenue lost 8/. for every publication.) Under the
regulation I propose it will be optional for all parties to
stamp or not, wholly or in part. Having shown that
public local newspapers now established will enjoy in-
creased facilities, I doubt much if any similar results would
be enjoyed by new newspapers. No newspaper can ever
circulate largely unless it be a good medium for advertise-
ments. It is from advertisements that a newspaper is
maintained—out of the profits. Small local newspapers will
never be profitable vehicles of advertisements, and therefore
they will never become good newspapers. The established
provincial newspapers, having large capital and a consider-
able circulation, and being in possession of the field, will
outer in competition with similar newspapers on the most
advantageous terms. The newspaper sketched by my right
honourable friend, the member for Manchester as soon
as the stamp is taken off seems to me to be a visionary pro-
duction. Ido not think that, many newspapers will be '
established. There is another objection to the present
measure—an objection which was adverted to in the other
house—that it will cause a loss of revenue. (Hear.) If
we had at this time a surplus revenue, and if the expendi-
ture of the country did not greaqy exceed the ordinary ;

income, the newspaper stamp would have fair claims to be
considered. But this was not the state of things at pre-

sent ; and if the house should ascertain that a contain loss
would follow the adoption of this measure, it would be my

duty to provide for the deficiency by some other mode Of
taxation. (Ironical cheers from the Opposition.) The pre-

sent stamp duty produces rather mor-esthaa 406,000/., and
it is estimated that the loss which will be created by the

change I propose, that is the repeal of the compulsory
stamp, will be 200,0001. (Ironical cheers.) There are at
the same time some facts that may lead to the inference

that, after the compulsory tax sliall be repealed, news-

papers will continua to print a considerablo part of their
impressions on stamped paper. I may state some facts
with respect to the circulation of the Times which will
throw some light on this part of the question. The Times
circulates about 59,000 per diem, of which the newsagents
distribute 33,000, and of which 26,000 go to the country.
Of these 26,000, 20,200 are sent by railway trains, and
0.800 are sent by post. I assume that at least three-fourths
of the whole impression of the Times passes through the
post, and a great proportion three or four times. lam
assured that of the provincial papers about two-thirds are
sent directly through the post. These facts lead to the in-
ference that the postage-stamp is found a convenience in

the transmission of newspapers, and even should it cease
to be a compulsory stamp, a large portion of. the circula-
tion of newspapers would pass through the post ; and if
the alteration of the law will lead to any large increase of
newspapers, it will also of necessity lead to a large in-
crease in the paper duties, and that will in some sort com-
pensate for the loss I have above referred to. But, accord-
ing to the estimate which has been made, the loss which
will accrue to the revenue cannot be take.* at less than

20J,0001. Such a loss to the revenue is considerable. (Hear,
hear.) But the house should bear in mind that the alter-
native they have to choose is the receding from the unani-
mous resolution passed last session and the passing of a
more stringent measure for collecting the newspaper stamp
duty. (Hear, hear.) I have only to add that it has been
suggested to me, since the resolutions wero laid on_ the
table of the house, that the plan would be more perfect if
it included all sorts of printed matter, and not merely
periodical publications. But that involves the question
of a cheap book postage. There is the present law, under
which, by the payment of 6d. each, books weighing not
more than one pound can be carried through the post,
and other changes may be in progress. But it is for the
Lords of the Treasury to modify the existing system, and
establish, if found desirable, a lower scale. However,
the Government think the question of the transmission

of periodical publications 'by past stands on different
grounds from books. I adroit the importance of the
regulations with respect to a cheap book postage, and,
should the house deem it desirable, I will take that
into consideration hereafter. But I may here state one
fact. According to the information given last session to
the committee on the railway post, the following appears
the weights of the different articles transmitted. Out of
100 articles sent by post, letters were only 13 per cent.,
books 2 per pent., newspapers 76 per cent., and bags 9 per
cent. (Hear, hear.) Judging by the weight, then, news-
papers form by far the largest portion of the articles trans-
mitted by post, whereas books were only 2 per cent. The
right hon. gentleman concluded by moving the following

re-solutions-:

" That it is expedient to amend the laws relating to the
stamp duties on newspapers, and to provide for the trans-
mission by post of printed periodical publications.
"That any periodical publication, to be entitled to the
privilege of transmission and retransmission by the post,
shall be printed on paper stamped for denoting the stamp
duty imposed by law on a newspaper, printed on the like
number of sheets or pieces of paper, and of the like dimen-
sions with respect to the superlicies of the letterpress
thereof. _

" That printed newspapers(British, Colonial, or Foreign)
shall be transmitted by the post between places in the
United Kingdom and her Majesty's Colonies or Foreign
Countries, or between any ports or places beyond the sea
(whether through the United Kingdom or not), either free
of postage or subject to such rates of postage, not exceed-
ing two pence for each newspaper, irrespective of any
charge for foreign postage, as the commissioners of the
Treasury, or her Majesty's Postmaster-General, with their
consent, shall from time to time think fit."
Mr. GLADSTONE -I have listened with great interest

;o the very elaborate statement of my right hon. friend,

and I entirely agree with him in the opinion he seems to
entertain, that it would be better that this bill should be
printed and laid before the house, and that there should
be some brief opportunity at least of giving it considera-
tion before we enter into any full discussion of its merits,
or into any comparison between the particular provisions
of my right hon. friend's measure and that of which I had
the honour of introducing. Parental partiality, probably,
renders me an unfair judge on this subject, but I cannot
deny that I regret the change which my right hon. friend
proposes. (Hear.) At the same time, in considering a
measure of this kind, I think it is our duty, as membersof
this house, to ask ourselves, not so much whether the mea-
sure that is proposed is in all respects conformable to our
own wishes and predilections, or even whether it is the
best that in our opinion could be submitted to Parliament,
but whether, upon the whole, it goes so far in avoiding
all existing difficulties of a serious and pressing character,
and in introducing material and substantial improve-
ments in the law, as to make it worth our while to recom-
mend and promote its adoption by the Legislature. That
is the principle upon which I desire to consider this bill
when it shall have been laid upon the table. There are,
however, one or two points in the measure proposed by my
right hon. friend upon which I wish to say a word. I con-
fess I was very glad to hoar my right hon. friend signify,
towards the close of his speed', that be was not indisposed
to give a favourable consideration to the proposal provided
it appeared to 1)0 in accbrdanee with the wishes of the
House, to introduce into his bill, not it qualification or al-
teration of the measure. but simply an extension of it,
which would establish a moderate and low tariff for
printed matter in general. I certainly thiuk that such a
regulation would be a• most valuable addition to the bill,
and would in no respect interfere with the principle which
my right hon. friend proposes to establish. I can con-
ceive nu reason whatever why newspapers or periodicals
published within 3L days should enjoy privileges that are
denied to the feebler moans and resources of those who may
occasienelly, or under particular circumstances, wish to
give the public the benefit of their thoughts in print.
With respect to one serious portion of this question to
which my right hon. friend adverted—namely, the effect
of his measure upon the revenue—l would remind him
that the introduction of a low and moderate postage
tariff for printed matter of all descriptions would
materially. tend towards indemnifying him for the
bees he is likely to sustain. I have no scruple in
adverting to this point, and I may remind the House
that although the present tariff fur the transport of books
by pest is not immoderate when it is applied to the
case of what may fairly be called books—l mean works of
cousideral:Se bulk, such, for instance, as the Quarterly or
Edinburgh Reviews, which approach the weight of a pound
—yet, so far as pamphlets are concerned, it is nearly a pro-
hibitory duty. indeed, it would very commonly better
answer the purpose of those who wish to circulate pamph-
lets through the post to send them as letters, subject to
the letter postage, than to avail themselves of the existing
tariff for the transmission of books by post. I think,
therefore, there is every necessity for an alteration in this
respect. With regard to my right hon. friend's -definition
of periodicals, I do not intend to enter into that part of
the question at present, but, if I' understand his resolu-
tions rightly, it appears to me that the only periodicals
which would be able to avail themselves of his proposition
would be periodicals that conform, in a certain degree, to
the arrangements of newspapers, and particularly periodi-
cals that are limited to a couple of sheets. I must confess
I apprehend that this regulation will be found materially
to limit the beneficial effect of my right hoc. friend's mea-
sure; and, if so, it will be an additional argument for his
adopting the pi ope?sal that greatly increased facilities should
be given for the circulation of printed matter, though not
periodicals, by post. The next point I wish to mention is
one to which I advert with greater unwillingness, but
upon which I differ from the views of my right honourable
friend. He has announced his intention to propose that
the use of the impressed stamp, which is to convey the
postal privilege, shall be conditional upon a registration,
that is to entail the giving of securities. (Hear, hear.)
Now, it is quite tree that at the present moment we have
a law of this kind in operation.- It is quite true that if a
tradesman at the present time carries his circular to the
Board of Inland Revenue he obtains the postal privilege
on the condition of his declaring his circular to be a news-
paper, although if the Board of Inland Revenue was after-
wards to prosecute him for not stamping his entire im-
pression, he would be entitled to go into a court ofjustice
and there to contend that that was not a newspaper which
he hiniSelf had declared to be a newspaper in order to ob-
tain the postal privilege for part of his enpression. Now,
the declaration thus made undoubtedly entails upon him
the condition of giving securities; and at present, if a
tradesman thinks he can supply his customers and the
public with any given article upon such terms that it is
worth while to advertise hisprices from time to time', and
if his ambition has so wide a range that he wishes to make
them known, not only in the place where he may live, but
throughout the country, it is necessary for him to register
his adveitisement sheet, or whatever it way be, as a news-
paper, and to give security that he will not print therein
any blasphemous or seditious libels, Undoubtedly this is