POPULAR BANKER

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19110, 20 September 1927, Page 9

POPULAR BANKER

WORK APPRECIATED

PRESENTATION TO MR F.

MARRIE

A large number of business associates and friends of Mr P. Manic, manager of the Christchurch branch of tho Commercial Bank of Australia. Ltd., gathered at tho Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon to bid him good-bye and to offer him congratulations upon his promotion to an inspectorship in Melbourne. Tho chairmanj Mr H. Hclliwcll, stated that it. was indeed a pleasure to welcome such a fine attendance to do honour to their banker and friend. Mr Frank Marrie, who had succeeded so well in establishing the branch office of the Commercial Bank of Australia in tho City. As soon as it was known that Mr Marrio had been promoted, there immediately sprang into existence a desire oh tho part of the bank's clientele to express its appreciation of services most successfully rendered. The speaker had been intimate with Mr Marrie during his Christchurch career, and considered it a special privilege to be allowed to preside at the meeting. Mr Main* might perhaps smile when lie heard that the actual commencing date o! real progress of the Commercial Bank in Christchurch should be fixed as from the time the bank's premises were transferred from Cathedral square to the building in Hereford street. This proved that he possessed the gift of being able to sum up the conditions prevailing in the City, and of making sure that the business occupied a suitable site as its commoroial home. Ho would oall upon Mr (J. Harper to make the presentation. In presenting Mr Marrio with a wallet of notes, Mr Harper stated that he had known him from the first moment of his arrival in Christchurch until his departure, not only as a business- man, but as a friend. Mr Marrie had established the bank in Cathedral square. It had been only in a small way, but it gradually grew until it occupied the present building, which showed how it had advanced under his administration. During that period of fourteen years more history had been made in the British Empire than ever before. Through that period Mr Marrie had mode tho bunk progress. He had great pleasure in making the presentation. Mr J. S. Mac Gibbon, Christchurch manager of the Bank of New Zealand. and Mr J. H. It. Cumin, Mr MhrricV successor to the managerial chair of the bank, also spoke. In replying, Mr Marrie tlianked them for tendering such" evidence of appreciation of hfs residence among them. Ho stated that Mr Harper had referred to the growth of the bunk. That was not entirely due t<> his efforts, but was due to the natural growth of Christchurch. When lie cam© to Christchurch in 1913, the population in the City had been 55,000. and in the suburbs 28,000. By 1926 the population had increased % 35,000, and the capital value br £10,000,000. There was one thing he noticed about Christchurch in comparison with Wellington and Auckland, and that was the absence of new buildings. During his term of office hero very few buildings of anv size had gone up. He had a very high regard for the province of Canterbury, which was the most productive country ho had ever teen. He again thanked tKem for gathering to bid him farewell. .The Waimairi County Council at its meeting last night decided to send a letter to Mr J l . Marrio, manager of the Commercial who is leovinp shortly for Australia, expressing their appreciation of his services to the Council.