§ MR. KENNEDY (Westmeath, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been called to the fact that £10 is the maximum credit balance maintained at sub-post offices transacting money order business in Ireland; whether he is aware that on the presentation of more than one money order a sub-postmaster is sometimes obliged to defer payment for 1335 several days, having first to apply to Dublin for the necessary funds; and seeing that, according to the regulations printed on the back thereof, those orders are payable on the day following the date of issue, whether the Postmaster General will protect the public from default, either by increasing the maximum credit allowed to sub-postmasters, or by forwarding to the latter with the advice note the necessary cash to cover same.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIt is only at the smallest post offices transacting money order business that the cash reserve is as low as £10; but it is possible that when several money orders for large amounts are presented for payment in one day, there may sometimes not be sufficient funds in hand to cash them in full. The Postmaster General believes such cases to be very rare, and lack of funds should never in ordinary circumstances lead to a delay of several days in payment. There is no rule under which the Post Office undertakes to pay money orders on the day following the date of issue. Arrangements are already made for supplying sufficient cash to offices on which an exceptional number of money orders have been drawn. Is the hon. Member referring to foreign money orders?
§ MR. KENNEDYNo; I am referring to my own experience of the past fortnight. Why cannot the money be sent along with the advice?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIf the hon. Member will give me specific instances I will inquire.