§ MR. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside)asked the Postmaster General, Whether he has received any representation as to the defective and insecure character of the little pass-books supplied by the Post Office for the use of depositors in school and. other penny savings banks, which, from having only paper covers and being insufficiently stitched, often come to pieces and cause the obliteration of the deposit entries after a few weeks' use; whether, having regard to the importance of preserving such books in a perfect state, arrangements could not be made by the Post Office for providing pass-books with linen covers; and, whether any financial objection to such arrangements could not easily be met by charging a trifling sum for the books, instead of supplying them gratis as at present?
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELL (A LORD of the TREASURY)(who replied) said (Wigton)Yes, Sir. The matter was brought under the notice of the Post-master General in January last. He caused inquiries to be made on the subject; and he found that the books suggested would involve a cost of 35s. per 1,000 as compared with 15s. per 1,000—the sum paid for the books at present in use. The number of books issued last year was 125,000; and seeing that the proposed alteration would result in an additional cost of about £125 a-year, he has felt some hesitation in adopting it. He will, however, be glad to consider the Question further.