You probably keep at all times a certain amount of your deposits totally unemployed; in reserve ?--Yes.
1188.

In a normal state of commercial affairs, is there any fixed proportion, or can you give the Committee any idea of what you would consider about a fair and desirable proportion which should be so kept unemployed ?--I think the best idea which I can give upon that subject is to give our annual statement, or balance sheet, for the 31st of December.
1189.

Does that show what amount of unemployed money you had on that day ?--Yes.

I will put in a statement, which perhaps will be the best means of meeting the question, showing the cash in hand on the 30th of June and the 31st of December in every year, as shown by our published accounts, together with our money at call and our Government securities; that will be perhaps the best and most convenient way of giving the information you desire to have.

(See Table below.) 1190.