The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-03-10 00:00:00

THE POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK.

In reply to several questions trem Mr. Kennard respect-
ing the management ot this Department,
_

Mr. Eawcett said: The hon. member asks me ten ques-
tions. I will endeavour to answer them as briefly as I
can. Within the last two or three years the number of
depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank has increased by
more than 400,000 a year, and the annual addition to the
aggregate deposits has increased by more than £8,000,000.
I think it will be obvious to the Blouse that it would have
been impossible te have provided. for to remarkable an
increase of business without a considerable amount of over-
time. It was necessary, for instance, to ascertaih whether
this large and sudden growth of business was only
temporary, or whether it was likely to continue. Care will
continuo to be taken to prevent the amount of overtime
from being unduly large, and with this object as many
additional clerks weee appointed as room could be found
for. The new premises in Queen Victoria-street, although
they have been opened little more than two )ears, and it
was then thought they would provide ample accommodation,
have been found too small. As my right hon, friend the
First Commissioner of Works stated the other day, the
difficulties which prevented the acquisition of fresh
accommodation have now been removed, and the new
premises will be ready for occupation next month. The
number of superior appointments is regulated by the
requirements of the service. Although I think the House
would not wish me to trouble them with unnecessary
details, I may state that in the last two years the number
of principal clerks has been increased in the male branch
from three to eight, and in the female branch by two. I
believe that great advantage has resulted from the employ-
ment of female clerks, and the number employed in the
Savings Bank haa been increased within the last two years
by 91 As the hon. member suggests the possibility of
fraud, I 050, In conclusion assure him that there has been
no fraud, and that, in my opinion, the method of keeping
the accounts of the linings Bank is entirely satisfactory,

Mr. Sellar called attention to the syst,m of private Bill
legislation, and moved a series of resolutions, the first of
which, declaring that the existing arrangement called for
the attention of Parliament, was accepted by Mr. Dodson on
the part of the Government.
After some discussion Mr. Sellar withdrew the others, con-
taining the details of Ms scheme, and the House was counted
out at twenty-five minutes pact eight.

TELE CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 7, Mr. Anderson
moved the second reading of the Cruelty to Animals Act
Amendment Bill. Be explained that the object of the Bill
was to put a stop to the horrible atrocities now perpetrated
under the name of sport in pigeon-shooting. Trap-shooting
at birds was never at the best much of a sport; but in olden
times it was diderent from what it was now. Long ago wild
blue-rock pigeons were pupplied, which when put in the
trap were strong-flying birds Whiph tested the skill of the
marksmen, and of which many escapZ'd : hutwld bine-rocks
wereno longer to be had, and the substitute toy them was the
common tame household pigeon, some of which were so tame
that they would not rise stall and it was necessary to provide a
starter, who frequently plucked out the whole of the tail
feathers; cometf.mes one eye was gouged out in order to
make the bird fly in a particnlar dinction. The sport was
quite as cruel as others whieh baa alrcady been put down by
law, and it was much more cruel than an( Whicla had not
been put down by law. It had no redeeming feature, aud
there was no trace of compensation about it. It was not a manly
sport, but a mere gambling transaction in which the lives of the
birds were the counters. Be contended that there was no
remedy short of forbidding the sport altogether by law ; and
he rejoic,ed 'o find that the Princess of Wales, now that her
attention had been called to the cruelty of pigeon-shooting,
had ceased to patroni2:6 it. Pie believed the opposition to
the Bill was directed against the second clause, on the
ground that It would prohibit the hunting of cartcd deer or
bagged foxes; but he undertook, if the Bill wire read
second time, to modify that clause in Committee.
Sir Herbert Maxwell sympathiz.d with the object a Mr
Anderson in introducing the Bill, and if he had thought it
wouldtgolicrlartheruthan put a Btu tto p 1 en
would hot have raised a finger to interfere with it. With
regard to tbe Princess of Wales, he believed that the story
which had been 'raged 07. her was purely apocryphal; but if
he could be satisfied of its trath t would cdrtainly go much
further in convincing him than 'the al:frt.:manta of Mr.
, Anderson. Ile failed to see any distinction between paecn7