WASTED TIME IN AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 95, 23 April 1902, Page 2

WASTED TIME IN AUCKLAND.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Permit me to endorse the remarks of E.J.C in to-day;s "Star." The time wasted in Court by the judge taking- his own notes is simply' shocking. As a juryman I speak feelingly; but there is a still more disgraceful waste of time, for which there is apparently no excute. I give my -own experience, and also that of a friend. I went to one of the well known banks in Queenstreet to cash a small cheque*—a lew shillings only.. I saw cashiers' desks, but, incredible as it may seem—il o'clock a.m., no cashiers were visible. Three or four persons were waiting with cheques, and I and they waited. I waited five minutes by the bank clock before a gentleman appeared, putting on a coat, as if he had ;'dst arisen. Upon my presenting' my poor little cheque, it was pushed back to me, "Get it marked, please." I pointed out that it possessed the best mark possible, the signature of the drawer, tut it seemed this was not sufficient for an Auckland bank cashier, though good enough for the best London banks. It appears a customers' account has to be looked' up every time a cheque of his is presented for payment, and marked good by the book-keeper. How.long., will this childish system of playing at banking endure? I have cashedhundreds of cheques in London, for sums of two thousand pounds downwards. No marking required, or ledger referred to, and Auckland at present is not so large as London. A well known business man tells me, when he goes to pay money into his bank at 2.15 p.m. he rarely" gets out before^ 3 o'clock—three-quarters of an ■ hour. What do you think of this?l It took m« eleven minutes altogether to cash my wee cheque. People say \ Auckland is slow in business compaTed to America. I should say an English^ country town would be streets ahead.—l am,-etc.,

AIM HIGH.