§ MR. HEYGATEasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he will state to the House the general result of the replies given by bankers and others to the inquiries addressed to them by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer as to the advisability of continuing (or otherwise) the coinage of half-crowns and florins?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe late Government directed questions to be put to a number of bankers with reference to the circulation of florins and half-crowns, suggesting those three courses:—Either that florins should continue to be coined and half-crowns withdrawn, or that half-crowns should continue to be coined and florins withdrawn, or that both should continue to be coined. Answers were received from 302 bankers to the following effect:—Of the 302 bankers, 46 reported their opinion in favour of the circulation of florins only; 63 in favour of the circulation of half-crowns only; and 193 in favour of the circulation of both concurrently. In consequence of that the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, just before leaving office, put an announcement in the newspapers that the issue of half-crowns would be resumed, and some, as he was informed, would be ready for issue in about a month.