AUCKLAND SAVINGS BANK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 138, 13 June 1932, Page 6

AUCKLAND SAVINGS BANK.

I was extremely sorry to see the statement in the "Star" that control of the bank is being partly taken out of the hands of the trustees aiid given to a Cabinet Minister. Some time- ago the trustees of the Auckland Savings Bank sent to the Auckland centre of the St. John Ambulance Association a sum of £4500, to enable them to complete and thoroughly equip the Ambulance station. The work has been so well done that distinguished members of the Order have been unanimous in their praise. One of the leading officers in England called while on a tour of the world, and his comment was, "The organisation ie the best I have seen." When the building was nearly finished the architect called on me and told ine that we woi.ld require a further sum of £1000 in order to complete the work. I brought the matter before the committee of the centre, who decided that I should write to the trustees of the Auckland Savings Bank and ask them to give a further sum of £1000. They gladly' complied with our request. A few days a'fter I received their reply, I saw one of the trustees, whom I thanked. He said: "The way we trustees looked at the. matter was this": The money did not belong to us, but to the people of Auckland, and we considered that the best way to use it for the benefit of the people of Auckland was to give it to the St. John Ambulance Association, which is doing such splendid work for their benefit." I do not think that we would have received that money if we had had to apply to a Cabinet Minister or a civil servant in Wellington, in spite of the fact that it was earned and saved in Auckland. I may mention that I am one of the oldest depositors in the Auckland Savings Bank, my account having been opened in 18">3, and I am the honorary secretary of the Auckland centre of the St. John Ambulance Association, and very glad that I can do the work without receiving payment. WILLIAM EATTRAY, Commander of the Venerable Order of St."' John of Jerusalem.