The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-24 00:00:00

One of the best measures of the last session, if

can be but carried out in actual practice, was the
creation of the Post Office Savings Banks. We
need not say much in the way of explanation, since
a penny tract supplies all the information wanted,
and can be obtained for distribution, post free, at
7s. per hundred, ftom T. P. LEMARE, 42, Pater.
noster-row. The tract commences with the follow-
ing condensed statement.
The following important advantages are offered
to the public by the Post Office Savings Banks :-
1. Government security.
2. Interest at the rate of 21 per cent. per annum (being
sixpence per year, or Id. per month, on each £1) is
allowed.

3. Sums from is. and upwards are received.
4. Money can be paid in and withdrawn every day.
5. Money deposited at one office will be repaid, if desired,
at any other office in England.
6. Depositor need not attend personally to eleposit or
withdraw money.
7. Married women, children, and trustees may deposit.
8. All forms and letters on the subject pass free of postage.
9. Deposits freo of stamp duty.
10. Facility of settlement in case of death of depositor.
To which should be added, that all officers en-
gaged in the Savings Bank or Departments are
bound not to disclose any matter relating to the
Department, except to the Postmaster-General and
his appointed officers. This is, of course, highly
important, since the depositors of shillings, as
little like to have their pecuniary affairs disclosed to
their neighbours, as those who keep a banker's
balance of thousands of pounds.
A:little exptrience will test the practicability of

this excellent scheme ; and may possibly suggest
some amendments. We do not observe, however,
that any are needed. The object is perfect security
against fraud on the depositors; and the precan-
Lions taken for this object seem to be as complete
as possible. If the depositor suffers his book to be
made use of by those who would rob him, it is but
just he should bear the loss of money
withdrawn by his own carlessness; but if

Ithe servants of the post-office are guilty
of fraud upon him, the Government will
bear the loss. If the interest be not high, it
is sufficient for perfect security ; and the depositors
may be assured that in that all-important point
they are as safe as possible, as there will never be
an English Parliament which will not hold these
deposits as the most sacred entrusted to their care.
We trust that clergymen and ministers of all de-
nominations, schoolmasters, large .employers of
labour, and all persons who have much access to
working people,. will not fail to draw their atten-

tion to the new savings banks. They will be doing
a most benevolent deed. The banks will soon •be
brought home to every neighbourhood, and facili-
ties for the safest investment of savings will be
afforded, such as have never been known
before. Wo all know that nothing tends
more to raise the character of the working
man than the independence created by economy,
and providing in a measure for futurity. We
would not depreciate any of the existing modes of
providing against future wants, but it strikes us
that there is something more elevating in the con-
sciousness that a man has a certain sum in the bank
of which he is absolute master, than in having the
right to claim aid in virtue of a subscription. The
latter is indeed good, very good, and desirable ; but
cannot the working man often do both ? Can he
not place something in the bank to use as he pleases,
as well as something in the society's treasury to ht
accessible only in case of sickness. The two com-
bined would be probably the best and most plea-
sant provision he could make for the future.