RETIRING BANK MANAGER.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20214, 17 April 1931, Page 14

RETIRING BANK MANAGER.

CLIENTS' TRIBUTE. I WELCOME TO MR M'LEOD. Warm tributes to the ability and kindness of Mr A. H. Glasgow, Christchurch manager of the Union Bank of Australia, Ltd., were paid by a gathering of more than 100 of his clients and friends who met yesterday afternoon to commemorate his retirement from the bank. Mr Glasgow was presented with a substantial chcaue and the heartiest wishes of all for Tris future prosperity. Representatives of his fellQw-bankere, the law, business people, and private clients all emphasised his excellent qualities. The announcement that Mr Glasgow will spend his retirement in Christchurch was Teceived with applause. His successor, Mr George McLeod, was at the same time welcomed to the City. Mr Frank Graham presided over the gathering, which was held in the Christchurch Gas Company's' demonstration room. With him were seated Mr Glasgow and Mr McLeod, and Messrs W. 8. Newburgh, C. P. Agar, A. T. Donnelly, G. E. Mannering, J, Mac Gibbon, and Sir Francis Boys. Among those present was Mr Sam Manning, who was an officer of tho Union Bank in 1857, and who has just celebrated hiß 90th birthday.' ■ After reading many apologies, Mr Frank Graham explained to the two guests the purpose of the meeting. During the seven years that Mr Glasgow had been manager of the bank's Christchurch brnnch ho had- gained the full esteem and confidence of its clients.

A Trying Position. ' j "It is extremely difficult to realise I that you have reached the retiring age, | or why it is necessary for you to re- i tiro," said Mr Graham, addressing liimsolf to Mr Glasgow. "The present j financial crisis is trying to all business ! men, but I don't think we realise how I trying ifcds to the manager of a bank I who has to handle his bank's funds in i such a careful,way as'to meet all.needs, i The Union Bank has been fortunate in i having at the head of-'its affairs dur-j ing the past 18 months a man of such i broad vision as yourself and we aB the bank's customers are to be congratu-1 lated in the same manner." 1 Mr Graham hoped sincerely that Mr Glasgow was not leaving Christchurch*. and, that his services would still lie J available to the; business community in advisory or directorial capacities. Speaking on behalf of the . private i customers,, Sir Francis Boys said that i he opened his account when 19 years 1 of age, 42 years ago. He knew that I Mr Glasgow had -had a wide experience of New Zealand, particularly in New j Plymouth, Wanganui, and Christchjirch, | and believed that he was also New' Zea- j land-born. ' - I

Mr Glasgow's Success. "We are here," continued Sir Francis, "to express our high appreciation of the manner in which he has maintained in his own bank the excellent reputation of banks all over the jvorld, particularly within the British Empire. Such a man must combine the impartiality of a judge with the astuteness of a lawyer, the general knowledge and business acumen of the, trader with, a, thorough understanding of. *' JhumAn nature. Above all, such a mail must be upright, and while doing hia duty by his bank must understand his customers and retain their friendship.' That 5 we are all gathered here to-day'shows' thftt Mr Glasgow has succeeded, < that he has retained „ us as his friends." Speaking for the legal profession.-. .Mr A. T.Donbelly saidthat the'banks of Australia and New Zealand, as being the few surviving institutions with' any readymoney, were «Sposed to a great" deal of criticism."-. .'^lll ; ,sensible people) 'recognised that of this court-' try; had assisted 'COinVnerce and in-' dustry in'every wa£. possible. - Thfet assistance itas given'through itl exe<-u» tive officers, of whom, Mr, Glasgow was fcuch a fine example. Out of grajitivd# for .that" 1 assistance, the th# bank were gathered to express 4 Hheir appreciation . vf" \ i * ft A Youthful Eetirement. - :. "I am sure I of , every banker in (AristchpVch' when I say that we learned with that'Mr Glasgow had'to retire,'>'saij£ Mr J. Mac Gibbon, (manager . >pj! 'th?. Bank of ,New Zealand, Christchurch).<On fact,'l wiwat first qtUte' about it, for 1 thoucht it v(&a ridiculous 'that a' man so young Should be re-' tiring. > ■' *my relations with " Mr Glasgow have - been moßt cprdial, and I have never' had business with-,an-other banher whic\ has been more pleasant. Besides- being "o, affable and 'dig- ' nified, he had a sens? of humour which was always apparent. His brother bankers wish' him every happiness, and the full enjoyment of trie leisure which 'he so richly* deserves." . * < On behalf of the bankers, iMr v MacGitben- extended a hearty wllcoriie ■to Mr McLeod. Mr' Graham now presented Mr Glas* gow with a-substantial cheque. "The custom er#of, the bank desire their testimony to take a tangible form,""' he said, Hand so X<am pleased to'hand-you' this ■ cheque,'which is given with tho greatest goodwill and ib the hope that you will have many years in which to enjoy the leisure .you so richly deserve'. V. Mr Glasgow was .warmly applauded as he rose to reply. *

,Mr Glasgow's Reply. v . * > "I've not been happy to-day," he confessed. * ' '/And now I find it fright-, f difficult—T- don't know what to say. " It has been hard to sit hero and hear- such <fiiio things being said by npy frieijds. "It's not my work that has .'got mo downj it's my age. Unfortunately, the, banks keep your birtltcertificates; bo it is no good> trying' to tell them that you are ten years, younger than you are. , I was not born in New Zealand, i but I.came out here as ff very email boy, "and joined tlie bank; at son. Altogether, I have been manager "tit ' seven.... branches! I ' feel—--I . don't know how to say it—that I'm part of the bank and the bank's part of me. It's a terrible break for me. > ■ i "I've been seven years, here, and my relations with my clients have been most friendly. I can't work with a man without getting attached to him, and so I have felt you all as my friends. I And when one is working.for friends, [ there is no labour in Tt at all. i "T do very much feel the end. qf an I active business career, but -I feel' very i honoured and gratified at .what you i have said about me. "A bank manager has two paramount duties; first to his bank, and second to i his customers. The first duty is fairly ■ clearly' defined, but the second is much more difficult. If I have had ' any 1 doubts after hearing a; man's - caße, T have always satisfied myself that the doubts were justified. ■ I have always tried to give some help, and, .if that has been impossible, some good advice. ■Further, I have always tried tq be definite. f l» av,e had the reputation of being hard—but I have a soft h,eart, and the hardest thing ' I have had to. do has been to say 'No.'

Tribute to Ohristohurch.. * "Any manager of a bank is lucky tobe stationed in Christchurch. Canter-! bury has a wonderful future,,. , and,j i

ful . district, with "a beautiful climate and beau\ifdl weather, »Jand sounl people. In 'the Olty ITiave fpukd'that City men and 1 tho residents generally have a true appreciation bf the rela--tipns offk bank its ' customers. Managing »- bank here .is m easy ak it iA be, on tM &en you 4eM withlThe piorfeera' exaSnple of grlt ahd itifegrity has been followed;anS it is" pl&waht Ho be in a City/ -.where you hifi[s thatd!* ' J , » f His suceaswrCwas -a. -very 1 iertwiajtep man'to to" Canterbury. Mr .l|lefojlovred' him in, Wanganui, |and'Mr, O&aMw {wis ~sure , that b» would- step info his shoes here a»^ . Thore was ' Mnewed applauie as Mr Glasgow' resulted his' seat. '* „ Mr O. P. Agar fended, the welcome of the clients to Mr McLeod.' L "I think Mr McLeod is; tp be con'gratulated upon his prttmotsou to the' ; ChriHtchurch branch, because ! am confident, tie. various banks is nowhiare more coxr dial. Ihan Obtains In this-.City," ,|ie said. We have* a team of b&rik man : agers of whom the commercial and - financial community are r Justly proud. On behellf, of th? bank's clients I weleothe you to Christcjiurch, and am sure thatwe all. look forward to a continuation of the happy and satisfactory ship that - has ; existed between - your' bank'and its clients in this City for many years past." - Mr McLeod I said that he -was very .proud of the position to which;he had' been appointed, although to follow a man of Mr 1 Glasgow's calibre .made his task very-difficult..'.He hoped,'however, hy taking a lead Glasgow, to Fin the goodivill of his clients; He was himself a South Islander, i having come from south' of the Waitaki,"and.it was, pleasant to be back again so near home. It was pleasant, too, to ,find in a centre' like Christchnrch , an appreciation of each- other's difficulties by the banks and the commercial: community. While not claiming Mr Glasgow 'a special qualities, he promised all. the fullest sympathy in any dealings which theymight have with him. In fact, he would tell them on the quiet that sbme•times he fought' more for. the ■ customers than he did for the bank.

At afternoon tea; .the clients-'individ-ually said farewell to Mr Glasgow, and were < introduced to his successor;