§ 62. Mr. YERBURGHasked whether the Postmaster General is in possession of information in regard to the way in which deposits in savings banks are utilised by countries where such banks are established; if not, whether he will take steps to obtain it; and whether he will lay such information before the House?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have recently obtained full information on this subject, and will lay it before the House at an early date.
§ 63. Mr. YERBURGHasked whether the Postmaster-General will state the total amount of deposits at the close of the year 1910 in savings banks serving rural districts and towns below 10,000 in population; and whether he will grant a Return showing the total amounts of deposits at the close of the year 1910 in each of the savings banks serving such rural districts and towns?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe information asked for is not available, and cannot indeed be obtained, for it is impossible to say to what extent a savings bank in a town of over 10,000 population is used by depositors in the surrounding districts.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is very great need of this money now going out of the rural districts into the towns being used for the purpose of agricultural credit in the villages, and cannot some part of it be put at the disposal of the agricultural labourers and others?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI would like notice of that question.