Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that until recently persons giving notice to withdraw sums of over £1 from the post office could draw the same within three days of giving notice, but that now four days elapse before they can get their money; and 203W whether he will take steps to alter the regulations so that the withdrawal can be made within three days?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am aware of the circumstance to which the hon. Member refers. The three days' system necessitated in the majority of cases the despatch of the payment warrant from the Savings Bank Department on the day of receipt in that Department of the notice of withdrawal. This was found to involve practical difficulties and also heavy expense for arranging by telegraph for the provision of the necessary funds at offices of payment. As a matter of fact, most of the warrants were not presented for payment on the day they reached the depositors, and the inconvenience and ex-expense of maintaining the three days' system did not therefore appear to be justified, especially as the systems of withdrawal on demand and by telegraph afford considerable facilities for prompt payment in cases of necessity. The alteration does not seem to have caused inconvenience to depositors such as to require reconsideration of the question, and I regret that I cannot see my way to revert to the old arrangement.