§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLI beg to ask the Postmaster General why the Table showing the distribution of the balances in Post Office Savings Banks in Ireland according to counties has been omitted for the year 1892; and if the Tables for Great Britain have been published?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI understand the hon. Member to refer to a Return which was moved for for some years by the late Mr. Whitley. This Return was presented for the last time in 1890 for the year ended 31st December, 1889, and it has not been moved for since. The Return is a costly one, and the purposes which it serves appear to be hardly proportionate to its cost.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether the balances in Irish Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks for the half-year ending 30th June last shows a decrease of £160,000; and if this is the first half-year since 1883 in which there has not been an increase?
§ MR. A. MORLEYThe estimated decrease in the Post Office Savings Banks, apart from the Trustees Banks, was only £49,000, or rather more than 1 per cent. The answer to the last paragraph is in the affirmative. I ought to say that during the first two months of the current half-year the deposits exceeded the withdrawals by about 36,000 in number, and about £24,000 in amount.