92

Hon. JOSEPH COOK moved,-- ----" That the matter be referred to the heads of departments for report.' After discussion the motion was withdrawn. Hon. JOSEPH COOK moved — " That the matter be struck out." Hon. J. GAVAN DUFFY suggested that instead of being struck out the subject should simply be not dealt with. It might seem discourteous to strike it out. The motion was not seconded, and the subject was dropped. Obliteration of Stamps. As to obliteration of stamps issued to collectors, Hon. J. GAVAN DUFFY said that this matter was becoming somewhat of a nuisance. Many people seemed to be fanatics in regard to collecting stamps, and latterly in Victoria the department had been placing a courtesy post mark upon them. This was done in order that the stamps might not be used for postage purposes by those who obtained them. That did not do away with the philatelic value of the stamps. He thought that a uniform method ought to be adopted by the different colonies. It should be clearly arranged so that stamps given out for purposes of collection could not be otherwise used. He moved, — " This Conference is of opinion that all stamps issued to collectors should be post-marked, so as to prevent them from being used for postal purposes." Hon. J. R. DICKSON seconded the motion. Hon. J. G. JENKINS moved as an amendment, — " That the word ' specimen ' should be placed across the stamps issued to collectors." Hon. JOSEPH COOK seconded the amendment. Hon. J. GAVAN DUFFY said that as the weight of opinion appeared to be against him,he would withdraw the motion. The amendment was then put, when The PRESIDEJNT said that it appeared from the voices that it would be his duty to give a casting vote. He regarded the Post Office as an institution maintained by the Government for postal purposes only, and would therefore vote for the amendment, and declared it carried. Hon. JOSEPH COOK moved— " That all postage-stamps issued to the Berne Postal Bureau or between Post Offices shall bear an obliteration with the date-stamp." Hon. J. G. JENKINS seconded, and the motion was agreed to. Newspaper Supplements. Hon. J. GAVAN DUFFY said : In the Victorian Post Office Act, which, he took it, was similar to if not identical with that of other colonies, a newspaper supplement was said to be wholly and substantially part of the newspaper; but he wanted to call the attention of the Conference to tradesmen's handbills and insets being sent in the newspapers through the post, and his department held that such were not supplements within the meaning of the law. He would like to have the matter discussed.' It was claimed in Victoria that such handbills were supplements within the meaning of the Victorian Act. He formally moved— " That an inset or a handbill shall not be regarded as coming within the definition of a newspaper supplement under the Post Office Acts." Hon. J. G. JENKINS seconded. As far as his colony was concerned their regulations did not allow such so-called " supplements " to be carried in newspapers. Hon. JOSEPH COOK said it was never anticipated that such things should be carried in the newspapers. It was a means of distributing small handbills for shopkeepers, for which the newspapers were paid. It would never do in New South Wales, where the newspapers were carried through the post free. It was an abuse against which decided action should be taken. Hon, J. R. DICKSON quoted the Queensland Act and regulations bearing on the subject, and supported the motion. Motion put and passed. Queensland's Treatment of other Colonies' Newspapers. Consideration of operation of the Suppression of Gambling and Indecent Advertisement Act of Queensland, in connection with newspapers published outside Queensland and forwarded by post to that colony. Hon. J. GAVAN DUFFY wondered if there was anything to be done with their friends from Queensland in this matter. As Mr. Dickson knew, this matter had been a bone of contention between Queensland and the other Colonies for years. He had put the subject down on the notice-