Out of Bondage

SPECTATOR COMPETITION No. 348 Report by Barbara Smoker

Bonds, The usual prize was offered for a Civil Service letter to withdrawers of Premium based on the letters of temptation from football-pool promoters.

Nor a very rewarding competition, I'm afraid. I had hoped for a studied bonhomie with 'inadvertent' lapses into Civil Service jargon. Half the entries were in officialese throughout, and most of the rest in a con- sistent colloquial style; very few even attempted to combine the two. Most of the entries needed pruning. Perhaps 150 words was too generous an allowance— but there is no rule against using less than the limit! The degree of success pro- phesied for the Premium Bonds scheme varied enormously. At one end of the scale 'Blossom' said that one month's prize dis- tribution was •`to the order of £650,' while H. Williams made it 'the cash equivalent of one battleship, four jet squadrons and five Government office blocks' ! My prize distribution is as follows : Two guineas to A. G. White for the best entry in a pretty poor batch; one guinea to R. Kennard Davis, despite his false assumption that one Premium Bond only had been held; one guinea to D. E. Harrison for an amusing Civil Service parody; and half-guineas to D. R. Peddy, Coral M. P. Taylor, E. C. Jenkins and Colin Prestige, from whose entries there is only room for three short extracts.

PRIZES

_ (A. G. WHITE) ' Dear Investor, The Chancellor of the Exchequer is very sorry to hear of your recent withdrawal of Premium Savings Bonds, and has requested me to send you the enclosed leaflet (No. PSB/3/C) on which you will see photos of the happy £1,000 winners in last month's draw. Will your photo be there next time? It could be, as long as you hold any Bonds of at least six months' standing. And your chances are proportionate to the number of such Bonds you hold. Every Bond has a chance of putting you among the big winners, and at the same time you are saving the purchase price— safely! So buy all the Premium Savings Bonds you can!

If you have not yet been lucky in a draw, this may be your lucky month—but 'Ernie' can only pick your number if it is there to pick. Good luck!

Yours sincerely,

(S QUI GGL E.) (R. KENNARD DAVIS)

Dear Mr.

Listen to them talking:

'There goes Prudence Forsyte in her lovely new furs!'

'How did she get them?'

`Her husband drew a winner.'

'Horse?'

'No—Premium Bond. No risk about that!! 'Lucky chap!'

'H'm! Lucky of course, but sensible tool He still has his savings intact—and helping the country!'

In many homes (but not yours!) there will be rejoicings when the result of the draw is announced. The eyes of many a wife (but not yours!) will glisten at a surprise gift. Many children (but not yours!) will look forward to a 'special' holiday next year.

Did you consider all this when you with- drew your bond? If not, there is still time for second thoughts. Why throw away this splen- did chance? Buy now!

(D. E. HARRISON)

Dear Sir,

WITHDRAWAL OF PREMIUM BONDS

I am directed to regret that you have with- drawn your Premium Bonds to the value of £10.

I am to hope that you have no fault to find with the administration or any other aspect of the scheme. Should, however, this be the case, any complaint may be made on form PB/56/3, obtainable from your nearest Post Office.

I am also to be surprised that you should forfeit the opportunity of adding substantially to your capital, such an addition being free of Income tax (subject to such legislation as Her Majesty's Government may from time to time introduce).

I remain, dear Sir, Your obedient servant, PB/56/2

(D. R. PEDDY)

. . . I am to express Their Lordships' hope that the enclosed pamphlets (3) depicting the award, to prize-winners, of Fortuitous Bene- fits (Non-Taxable), by four Permanent Under- Secretaries of State will move you to undepar- ticipate in the Scheme.

(E. C. JENKINS)

With reference to the forthcoming drawing of Premium Bonds, I have to point out that it is not inconceivable that cheques for One Thousand Pounds each (or such lesser amounts as may be determined) will shortly be delivered through the letter boxes in your town, in your village, or even in your. street. . . .

(COLIN PRESTIGE)

I am directed by the Controller of Savings to state that the Premium Savings Bond(s) which you purchased six months ago would today have participated in the monthly ballot, had you not since encashed the Bond(s). . .