§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that an application, made by a branch of the Steam Engine Makers' Society, at New Brompton, to deposit the funds of the branch in the Post Office Savings Bank, was met by the reply, on the part of the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, that the branch could not deposit its funds without limit, on the grounds "that, in their opinion, your Society does not come within the class of cases contemplated by the Statute"; whether he is aware that it has been the practice of 32 the Society named for a great number of years to deposit in the Post Office Savings Bank the funds of all their branches, and that by some 70 to 80 branches the funds are so deposited at this time without any question; whether he can inform the House upon what grounds an exception is made as regards this particular branch; and whether it is the intention of the National Debt Commissioners to withdraw the privilege so long enjoyed by the Trade Unions of the United Kingdom of depositing their funds in the Post Office Savings Banks, or of so limiting the amount as to render the privilege of but little benefit to such societies?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EX-CHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareI would ask the hon. Member to postpone this question until to-morrow.