BANK HOLIDAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 36, 10 February 1906, Page 7

BANK HOLIDAYS.

The Auckland Grocers' Union of I Employers wrote to the Chamber of j* Commerce yesterday stating that con- j' siderable inconvenience and annoyance | ' was experienced by shopkeepers generally by the banks closing from Satur- ( day to the following Thursday for the 1 Christmas holidays and from Saturday to the following Wednesday for the * New Year holidays. The Association i suggested that on similar occasions in * ithe future when bank holidays extend " I over a period of two days, arrange- * ments should be made by the banks for j the receiving of deposits on one day < during such holidays (in the evening by i preference) for the convenience of ■ their clients. The Association begged . the council's co-operation and support ill the direction of inducing the several i banking institutions in the city to favourably consider the foregoing sug- , gestions. Mr S. Nathan said the closing of the banks for more than one day was a great inconvenience. He thought the council should support the Gro-. cers' Association in this matter. Mr J. B. Macfarlane said what noople complained of most was not being ' able to bank money on Christmas and New Year's E-.-e. and at Easter. Mr T. Peacock moved that the secretary write to the banks asking favourable consideration of the suggestions of the Grocers' Association. Mr Nathan seconded the motion. Mr J. H. Upton said this was a totally new departure that was wanted. He had never heard of commercial banks opening at night to receive deposits. They were trying to get the banks to do the work of a safe deposit company. Mr M. Clark: This is the only colony where there are so many bank holidays. Mr Peacock said not only was their business interfered with, but an extra day had been added at Christmas. M"r W. Philson said the banks worked late on days before a holiday, and could not be expected to open at night to receive deposits. Mr Upton said it was dangerous for the Council to start to tell people how to run their own business. Mr Graves Aickin said it was notorious that there- were too many bank holidays in this colony. Mr Philson moved, as an amendment, that the Grocers' Association be written to pointing out that, as it was unlikely their request would be granted, they should approach the Government with the object of having a reduction in the number of bank holidays at Christmas and Easter. Mr Nathan thouprht that would be a mistake, as no one grudged the banks was that facility should be given to the holidays. All that was required banking money. Mr Philson considered it disgraceful that the business of the city should be hung up because of steeplechase day and cattle show. Mr Upton said he understood that was a mistake. The holiday was not given on account of the steepleohase, but that the races happened to be on that day. Mr Phi.lson's amendment lapsed for want of a seconder, and the original motion was adopted.