§ MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General if he is able to give the number of persons who, since the loth of February, have lodged their Savings Bank books in the various post offices throughout Ireland for the purpose of having them sent to London to be checked, and the amount of deposits withdrawn?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. A. MORLEY,) Nottingham, E.I will give the number of applications to close accounts for the period l5th February to 9th March, inclusive, for the three years 1891, 1892, and 1893:— 1891, 2,200; 1892, 2,280; 1893, 2,850. These figures are at the following percentage on the total number of accounts 14 in Ireland at the commencement of the year:—1891, 1.10; 1892,1.07; 1893, 1.27. During the same periods the following number of now accounts have been opened:—1891, 3,472; 1892, 3,366; 1893, 3,227. The percentages in these cases have been 1.74, 1.58, 1.43.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Can the right hon. Gentleman state to what extent the slight decrease is owing to the depression of trade in Ireland?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI have no accurate information, but the figures rather point to that as the cause.
§ MR. W. JOHNSTONCan the right hon. Gentleman say how much of the decrease is due to the introduction of the Home Rule Bill?
§ [No answer was given.]