cards--an increase
of 6 per cent. in the number of letters, as compared with an increase of
6 per cent. in the year preceding their introduction. The proposal was
opposed by the Budget Commission and by the Government, but the
amendment was voted by the Assembly and was incorporated in the law of
the 20th December 1872. The rate of postage was fixed at 10 centimes for
cards circulating within the area served by the same office and 15
centimes for others. (The minimum letter rate was at this time 15
centimes for letters circulating in the area served by the same office
and 25 centimes for others.) In 1878 the rate was made uniform at 10
centimes for all cards. This rate still continues in respect of cards
bearing written messages in the nature of personal communications, but
it has been reduced to 5 centimes in respect of picture postcards or
commercial advertisement cards which do not boar a written communication
of more than five words. The circulation of postcards is naturally much
restricted, and the reduction of the general rate to 5 centimes is much
desired. There has been a good deal of discussion of the matter by the
parliamentary Budget Commissions, but financial considerations have so
far prevented the concession of this boon.

[524] See _infra_, pp. 303-4; cf. C. H. Hull, op. cit., p. 146.

[525] _Annual Report of Postmaster-General_, 1913-14, p. 1.

[526] E.g., "As to books for the blind, there can be only one opinion.
The afflicted must be looked after before anybody else."--Sir Adolphe
Caron, _Parliamentary Debates, Canada_ (_Commons_), 13th May 1898.

[527] Cf. _supra_, Chapter II.

[528] "Inland post comprehends all matter deposited in a post office in
Canada for delivery either from the same or from any other post office
in Canada.

"Such matter is divided into four classes:--

"(1) Letters, postcards, and all matter either wholly or partly in
writing or typewriting, except the manuscript of books or newspapers and
certain documents of the Dominion and Provincial Governments and of
Municipal Authorities, which belong to Class 3.

"(2) Newspapers and periodicals.

"(3) Printed matter not included in Class 2, samples, and certain
miscellaneous matter.

"(4) Merchandise."--_Canada Official Postal Guide_, 1912, p. 4.

[529] See _supra_, p. 158.

[530] See _infra_, pp. 336-7.

[531] See _The Practical Method of the Penny Post_, London, 1681.

[532] The "General Post" was the term applied to t