§ MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state the number of cases for the year 1897 in which the telegraph was used for the purpose of giving notice of the withdrawal of money from the Post Office Savings Bank, and the average cost to the depositor of each such telegraphic notice; and will he also state the number of cases in 1897 in which the depositor paid for telegraphic advice of payment as well as for telegraphic notice of withdrawal, and the average cost to the depositor in each such case of payment for two telegrams?
§ MR. HANBURYThe number of cases in which the telegraph was used for the purpose of giving notice of withdrawal of money from the Post Office Savings Bank during 1897—the withdrawal being made the next day—was 9,389, and the average cost to the depositor in each such case was about 9d. The number of cases in 1897 in which the depositor paid for telegraphic advice of payment as well as for telegraphic notice of withdrawal was 117,507, and the average cost to the depositor in each such case was about 1s. 3d.