Thompson Hankey_ hoped that the proposed scheme, if found practicable, would entirely supersede the existing banks, and the sooner the better. _Mr. Baines_ followed in the same strain; he would not regret if the new banks superseded the old, inasmuch as that result could only be brought about by the proved superiority of the new system. The member for Leeds said, "he had been assured by Sir Rowland Hill, and all the gentlemen whose departments at the Post Office would be charged with the carrying out of the plan, that it would work exceedingly well;" and he could state that, though it differed materially from his plan, Mr. Sikes of Huddersfield was a "hearty supporter" of the scheme which the Post Office had adopted.[171] _Mr. Gladstone_ could not say whether the old would suffer from the new banks; if they did, it would only be because the latter were the safest and the best. Whether or no, the object of the bill was not competition with the old banks. He wanted to supply facilities which at present did not exist, and the first duty of the Postmaster-General would be to look to the establishment of Savings Banks in those places where no banks existed, or where the accommodation was very narrow. As to their application to the Money Order Offices of the country, it would be gradual and slow, and so as not in any way to endanger the machinery of the Post Office; the Postmaster-General would select at first a moderate number to be opened, and extend them in proportion as he found occasion, the test and index of the occasion being the demand for such banks by the public. Mr. Gladstone then referred to the rate of interest which would be allowed, and said that in this respect the Post Office Banks would have somewhat less attraction; "the present banks were established on the principle of giving a bonus; the new system must be strictly self-supporting." He would not feed them at the expense of the Post Office, or any other revenue, and in that case the rate of interest must be such as can be safely paid. With regard to the forebodings of Mr. Estcourt relating to the risks which Government would run, Mr. Gladstone stated that the system of Savings Banks had been established for forty-five years, during which time they had had every description of speculation, the severity of a commercial crisis, the pressure of a dreadful famine, and almost every trial that could befal a new system; and although the Government was always holding a great amount of money at call, there had been but a small pecuniary loss, in comparison with which loss the establishment and progress of such a system was immeasurably of greater value. After stating that he thought "the Post Office machinery admirably suited for the purposes of the new measure," the bill passed the second reading.