50 / 736
without any regard whatever for an increase in
the remuneration of the solicitor concerned in
conducting
the
litigation. We would earnestly
request that the Society should examine the posi–
tion especially in relation to the instructions fees
being presently awarded in the High Court when
a comparison will readily show that these instruc–
tions fees have not been increased at all in over
ten years.
Yours faithfully,
Haughton and Bowler.
Solicitors.
Post Office Savings Bank Deposits
Proof of Identity
The following
is
a copy of correspondence
which passed between Messrs Rutledge Doyle &
Co., members of the Society, and the Director of
Savings.
28th June 1967 Messrs Rutledge Doyle & Co.
to the Director of Savings.
"We should like at this stage to protest in the
strongest manner at this most cumbersome way
the Post Office Savings Bank have of paying a
claim of depositors. The Grant of Probate issued
under the Seal of the High Court has been already
exhibited and the will authenticated showing that
the will is the last will of the deceased and the
persons therein named are the executors;
they
having first sworn faithfully
to administer the
estate. Despite the production of this document
an elaborate system of form filling is now required
to obtain payment, when
in every case from
banks of every description, insurance companies
and other paying societies, production of
the
grant is sufficient to have a cheque sent promptly
in settlement of the amount standing to deceased's
credit. All this unnecessary system which we can
only call
'red tape' adds this unnecessary delay
and costs. While the Director of Savings makes
many appeals for investments in the Post Office
Savings Bank, we regret that we cannot be en–
thusiastic in so advising any of our clients due to
the most cumbersome method of obtaining pay–
ment in the case of a deceased depositor.
"Surely the time has come to change what must
be the remnants of an outmoded earlier system."
19th July 1967/Director of Savings to Rutledge
Doyle & Co.
"With regard to your strictures therein,
the
Savings Bank cannot use the same system as the
other institutions you mention because, with 1£
million centrally controlled accounts and wide
duplication of names in the same areas, we have
a bigger problem in establishing that a deceased
person is in fact a customer for whose savings we
are responsible; experience has proved the neces–
sity for the precautions we
take,
in particular
questions
1
and 2 and the declaration on
the
Claim Form. Questions 3 and 4 are needed where
a Grant of Representation has not already been
produced, but where it has been, and the claimant
objects to writing what are then superfluous ans–
wers, he can of course omit these two. Question
5
is necessary because of the special status of a
nomination under Savings Bank law, and again
to assist confirmation of identification of the par–
ties. Question 14 is put in because Savings Certi–
ficates are dealt with in a section independent of
the Savings Bank and liaison can thus be estab–
lished and treatment of cases in which both are
involved can be expedited. Question 17 is innoc–
uous. These are the only questions to be dealt
with when a grant has been or is being produced.
"Your
interest
in having
the Savings Bank
procedures simplified and improved is apprecia–
ted; we are concerned to bring this about, as far
as is consistent with compliance with the statutes
and statutory regulations which govern our opera–
tions and with our obligations to safeguard our
customers' interests and public monies."
[It does appear that the procedure adopted by
the Post Office Savings Bank in connection with
the repayment of deposits is a lot more trouble–
some and cumbersome than the requirements of
other
lending
institutions
apparently
for
the
reasons given in the letter from the Director of
Savings. Nevertheless it would appear that the
balance of public convenience would justify the
adoption of a simpler procedure even at the pos–
sible risk of occasional mistake. Statistically this
risk which is probably minimal could be covered
by
insurance which would hardly affect
the
rate of interest.]
TUAIRIM COMPETITION
Tuairim is a society which seeks to encourage
active participation by citizens in public affairs.
Its interests run to politics, economics, education,
the social sciences and arts. Particularly eager to
involve young people in its activities, the Dublin
Branch of Tuairim announces its first £100 Award
for the best essay of 5,000 words or more, on
"The Future of Irish Democracy".
The competition is open to all under twenty-
five years of age and entrants must be permanently
resident in Ireland. No particular treatment of
the subject is laid down in the rules and, if of
44