§ MR. WEIRTo ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state the number of withdrawals by telegraph from the Post Office Savings Bank for the year ending 31st December, 1901, and the average cost to the depositor of each withdrawal; and will he also state the number of telegraph notices of withdrawal for payment on the following day, and the average cost to the depositor of each such notice.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain). The number of withdrawals by telegraph from the Post Office Savings Bank during the year ended 31st December, 1901, was 192,308; and the average cost to the depositor of each such withdrawal was about Is. 3d. The number of telegraph notices of withdrawal for payment on the following day was 13,108: and the average cost to the depositor of each such telegraph notice was about 9d.