If after eight days subsequent to the notice the stock-account book is not found the Post Office Savings Bank will issue a duplicate and send it to the depositor, or if an official act is sought with reference to the book, the Post Office Savings Bank will enter into communication with the actual possessor of the book and it will depend upon the result whether the Post Office Savings Bank can grant the request of the loser, or whether it decides to relegate the parties to the magistrate in whose jurisdiction the matter lies.
11.—Freedom from Cost of Postage and Commissions.
The correspondence of depositors with Post Office Savings Bank as well as with the Receiving Offices and with the Post Office management is always post-free, even in the case of a registered letter.
This favour however has no application to the sending of certificates of stock or with reference to money transactions which result from the purchase and collection of the interest on the stock, nor does it apply to notices forwarded of their declared value, with the sole exception of the deposit-book being sent by letter with the declared value for the purchase of stock in the funds.
The correspondence of the Post Office Savings Bank and its organs with the depositors is with reference to orders to addresses designated free from the tax of 1 kreutzer the letter, a tax appointed with reference to the post offices not dependent on the Treasury and to rural post offices, and in connection with the collection of registered letters also to those dependent on the Treasury.
The memorials addressed to the Post Office Savings Bank, to the Post Office authorities and their organs by depositors their legal successors, or authorised representatives, as well as the acts of conveyance mentioned in article 6 of the law of May 28th 1882 are stamp and duty free. The interests of the savings deposits are in like manner exempt from the Income Tax and from any future tax coming in its place.
The deposit-book as well as the forms necessary in giving instructions in business transactions with the Post Office Saving Bank will be supplied to depositors gratuitously.
12.—Official Secrets.
The officials of the Post Office Savings Bank are bound by duty to keep the business and official secrets and it is strictly forbidden to them, beyond their superiors, to impart to any persons whatever, knowledge of any kind relating either to the names of depositors or the the amount of the sums deposited or withdrawn, or to the amount of balances. Those who contravene this rule will undergo disciplinary treatment, and, according to the circumstances, will be dismissed from the service.
Every depositor may therefore rely on the strictest secrecy with relation to his business transactions with the Post Office Savings Bank, not only with reference to the usual Post Office Savings Service, but also with regard to the business in the Public Funds.