§ 69. Mr. LUNNasked the- Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the long d slays at the Post Office Savings Bank Department in the issue of the bank books containing the war gratuities of demobilised men, and of the long delays occasioned in the answer of correspondence on this subject; and can he state the reason for this laxity in the Department concerned?
§ The ASSISTANT - POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pike Pease)There is no delay in the issue by the Post Office Savings Bank of deposit books for war gratuities advised by regimental paymasters. Correspondence is dealt with as it is received, but much difficulty is experienced when incorrect or incomplete addresses are furnished in the schedules reporting the gratuities. Thousands of communications sure, consequently, returned as undeliverable. The number of cases of complaint is very small compared with the number of gratuities dealt with. More than 3,250,000 books have been dispatched, and 4,500.000 withdrawals have been paid on the accounts represented by these books.