BANK OFFICERS' GUILD.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16653, 14 October 1919, Page 5

BANK OFFICERS' GUILD.

its Aims and objects.

The objeots of the New Zealand Bank Officers' Guild were explained by the general secretary,' Mr H. P. Mourant, at a meeting of bank officers held in Auckland

Mr Mourant said that while the Guild ! stood for more adequate remuneration, j it also aimed at increasing the efficiency jot the bank employee and opening the [ way to promotion by means other than j that of seniority. The tost of living was being keenly; felt by the bank clerk, and he believed that many were finding it a difficult matter to pay their •way. He held' that men in positions of trust and responsfibility should be removed from the fear of debt and the risk of temptation. If the Guild went the right way in moving for these reforms and approached tne directors ?f the various banks in a proper spirit, it would meet with a sympathetic reception. The Guild had an important duty tc perforni, and it would be missing its opportunity if it did not raise the status ol the profession. Their lilogan should be "bankers," and not bank clerks, for the [Dominion needed qualified bankers more than anything, and a campaign to cducate the bank employee in the science of modern banking methods was one of tlie principal aims of the Guild. . Mr Mourant mentioned that the Bank Guild in England had a memßerthip of 10,000. and was steadily growing: There wore similar guijds in Scotland and Ireland, while the Bank Officers'" Association in Sydney was making remarkable progress. The New Zealand Guild nad jnst reached the 1200 membership mark, including 138 managers, the bank officers of the Dominion being estimated* at about 2000. They should consider the establishment of a correspondence course on banking matters, and he spoke of the beneficial results obtained by this means in Canada. He spoke strongly against anything approaching direct action, and said the Guild would accomplish its end by meeting the directors in a conciliatory spirit, treating the directors as gentlemen and conducting themselves as such. (Applause.) The chairman made it clear that the Guild was going to attain its objects by legitimate means, and was -not organisfing a lot of malcontents. Ho pointed out for the benefit of the younger men that they were going to benefit by the educational proposals of the Guild.

In replv to questions, Mr Mourant explained the proposed constitution of the Guild, and said each bank would have a tttomestic committee, which -would deal -with matters affecting that bank. An endeavour would be-made to . Bee that adequate provision was made for old servants of the banks, while it was suggested that there ghould be an optional retiring age of, say, 60, and a compulsory retiring age of 62 or 63, to provide opportunities for the younger men.