§ MR. F. A. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether consideration has been given to the complaints of the Friendly Societies, that they are seriously prejudiced by the raising of the charge of money orders under 11 from 2d. to 3d.; that the number of orders under £1 for contributions of members and for sick pay is enormous in the year, and the loss from the extra 1d. in the Hearts of Oak Society alone is estimated at £11,000 a year; and, whether the Postmaster General will, in view of the discouragement to thrift caused by the charge, reduce the rate for sums under£1 to 2d.
§ MR. HANBURYI must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I Leave on the 23rd ultimo to the hon. Members for South Somerset and the Leominster Division of Herefordshire. But I may add that the hon. Member is mistaken in supposing that the loss from the extra 1d. in the Hearts of Oak Society alone is estimated at £11,000 a year. As a matter of fact the difference between 2d. and 3d. on all orders for £1 and under issued by the Post Office does not reach that sum, and the Hearts of Oak Society only takes out a proportion of the orders.