PISTOLS IN BANKS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31139, 16 August 1966, Page 12

PISTOLS IN BANKS

Staff Wants Removal “The Press” Special Service . AUCKLAND, August 15. Bank employees will renew their requests to the Bankers’ Association to have firearms withdrawn from banks. The decision follows the death of an 18-year-old teller at the Ponsonby branch of the Auckland Savings Bank The Bank Officers’ Guild and the Bank Officers’ Union had further discussions on the issue at a recent management committee meeting. The president of both organisations (Mr J. A. Fallaver, of Palmerston North) said it was hoped to achieve a solution soon. Some banks had relieved tellers of their pistols but the pistols were still kept in the offices in case of an emergency. The chairman of the Bankers’ Association (Mr E. B. [Williams) said in Wellington that the association did not .direct the individual banks ion security matters. Closecircuit television and cameras trained on tellers’ boxes could be deterrents but the cost was one of the main considerations. “We are very conscious of the need for security,” he said, “and are always pleased to look aj something that might help us.”