The post office and its story an interesting account of the activities of a great government department

It is interesting to know that the small investors of the Post Office Savings Bank follow the rise and fall in the Stock markets with considerable keenness. A fall in price means an immediate increase in the number of investments, and of course with a rise the sales are similarly affected. Many, however, unfortunately invest in sheer ignorance of what they are doing, and the reputation of the Post Office suffers in their eyes when they lose by the transaction. But let us get back to our imaginary depositor. If he wishes to withdraw from his deposit account a sum not exceeding £1, he can obtain it on demand from any post office on production of his book, and on his satisfying the paying officer of his identity as the depositor in the account. If he wishes to withdraw any sum by the ordinary means he forwards a notice of withdrawal to the Head Office in London, and he receives a warrant for the amount payable at any post office named by him. If he is in urgent need of any sum not exceeding £10 he can, instead of forwarding by post a notice of withdrawal, telegraph for the money to the Head Office, and instructions will be sent by telegram to the local postmaster to pay him on production of his book and proof of identity. In out-of-the-way villages the paying officer is often a small tradesman who has a limited vocabulary and does not readily grasp the meaning of his instructions from headquarters. The meaning of the word “identity” was evidently misunderstood by one postmaster, who replied to the Head Office after paying money to a depositor, “The postmaster is quite satisfied with the depositor, and finds no identity in him whatever.” I cannot imagine to what ignominious examination the depositor was subjected, but as he was paid his money without establishing his identity, I presume he as well as the postmaster was satisfied.