§ MR. JOICEY (Durham, Chester-le-Street)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, in the absence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he will make arrangements for the dividends due on Consols to be remitted to the address stated in the Register of Proprietors, as in the case of Railway and other Companies; and, in the event of him being unable to do this, he will arrange for a notice to be sent to each proprietor that a dividend is due to him?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)In the case of Consols, as in the case of all other Stocks inscribed at the Bank of England, dividends are sent by post to any Stockholder who desires to have the money remitted to him in that way, and who makes the necessary application to the Bank. These facilities are afforded by the Act of 1870, 33 & 34 Vict. c. 71; and any extension of them on the lines suggested by the hon. Member would, it is thought, give rise to great inconvenience, possibly open the door for fraud, and certainly involve a large increase of labour.