BANK HOLIDAYS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13270, 21 February 1941, Page 4

BANK HOLIDAYS

CLOSING ON SAINT* DAYS

BUSINESS PEOPLE INCOH

VENIENCED

REPRESENTATIONS TO MINISTER

'•That the Minister of i nter Affairs be requested to consider tw advisability of amending the h regarding the statutory bank hoU days by eliminating Saints' days apri thus save the business communit, serious inconvenience," was a motion carried at a meeting of the Tauranci Chamber of Commerce on Tuesdav evening and it was decided that I copy of it be forwarded to the South Auckland Federation of Coumv Chambers for its approval.

The motion was moved by M r » N. Christian during a discussion on hank holidays held over from the previous meeting of the Chamber He said he was more concerned about Saints' days, stating that the closing of the banks on those days caused business people much inconvenience.

"In a Quandary''

To illustrate his contention, Mr Christian said he remembered or one occasion a visitor presenting him with a cheque for a large amount He did not know whether to accept the cheque or not, so he telephoned the bank for a report and discovered that it was a Saint's day. Being unable to obtain the report he was in a quandary. He did not wish to turn down the business and ou the other hand he did not wish to take the risk of accepting the cheque. That, he thought, was not in the interests of the business people. He felt quite sure the Government would be sympathetic toward the request. ■ The last Saint's day, added Mr Christian, fell on a Monday. Many had taken a fair amount of cash on the Saturday, and had to carry it over until Tuesday, which was an undesirable thing. The motion was seconded by Mr F. T. Briggs, who thought the move was a good one. Old-Established Custom

Mr B. P. Andrews said that from inquiries he had made he had learned that the closing of the banks on Saints' days was an old-established custom. It was an old-established custom to open the banks from 10 o'clock till 12 o'clock on Saturday mornings but that had been altered. He added that very few people knew when the Saints' days were.

"I always find out when I go to the bank," said Mr Christian. Continuing, Mr Andrews said there would be a howl from the people if the Post Office Savings Bank were closed down on Saints' days. He felt the Government would be sympathetic, and if the other chambers could be induced to take up the question he felt sure the combined representations would bring about the desired effect. The motion was then put and carried.