One hundred years ago
Mr Arthur O'Connor on Tuesday tried to induce the House of Commons to crush Messrs W. H. Smith and Co. He declared that the great newsdealing firm made £148,000 a year out of the London papers — an exaggeration and moved that it should be an instruc- tion to the London, Brighton, and South-Coast Railway to put all book- stalls up to auction for terms of three Years only. He maintained that the monopolists boycotted any publication they chose, and was eloquent on the wrongs of a Mr Kenny, who set up a rival bookstall near a station, and whom Messrs Smith refused to supply. He was supported by Mr Courtney, who apparently wished for a general State control over the sale of books and newspapers, but objected to the railway censorship, even advising anybody who could not get a book from Messrs Smith to bring an action. The House, how- ever, refused to vote down Messrs Smith. The position of these great agents is really a very singular one, and if unwisely used might call for the interference of Parliament; but hitherto they have been most careful, and the monopoly benefits both newspapers and the public. The system of 'returns' Could not be worked at all, as the proprietor of Truth said, without a monopoly; while only a single great firm could keep up a circulating-library throughout England.
Spectator, 20 March 1886