§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can inform the House what 568 has been done, and is being done, to insure the repayment to the depositors in the Cardiff Trustee Savings Bank of the moneys lost by them through the frauds of the late actuary and the negligence of the trustees and managers, as reported to this House in December 1887 by the Commissioner appointed to inquire into this case?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareThe hon. Member will recollect that, upon the Report of the Commissioners appointed by the Treasury to inquire into the failure of the Cardiff Savings Bank, the National Debt Commissioners applied to the High Court for an order to have the affairs of the bank wound up under the Companies Act. This order was made, and a liquidator appointed. In winding up the affairs of the bank, the liquidator, who is going most fully into all the details, is acting under the direction of the Court, and the Government cannot give directions to him as to the course he is to pursue, which it is for the Court alone to decide.
§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, as a period of three years has now elapsed since the failure of the bank, it is not desirable that steps should be taken to repay the depositors?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI have done my utmost to push the matter forward, and such influence as is in the power of the Treasury will be exercised. We have no power, however, to expedite the certificates of the Commissioner.