BANK CLERK TROUBLES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 120, 17 November 1909, Page 10

BANK CLERK TROUBLES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— l have rear! with interest the articles appearing in youi- columns under this heading, and feel that not only yoiuself but the public of New Zealand must feel puzzled at the contradictory repoits which are published (from time to time on the subject, and am writing these few lines to explain why one bank official will give information concerning the position of bank clerks so totally different from another. In New Zealand we have five large established banks. Three of these ppy their officers well, a fourth pays badly, and a fifth shockingly. It is 'from the oificers of this fifth bank that all the letters of discontent which appear in the papers, periodically must come, only to be contradicted by an official in a better-paying institution. In this fifth bank not only are the clerks underpaid, but the managers and senior officers receive shocking salaries. Managers in country branches on an average receive from £200 to £275 per annum. If there is a residence attached to the bank, from £25 to £75 a year is deducted off the manager's small salary for rent. There are ofterft instances where the manager does not require the residence attached to the office. It is in the centre of a town, with no ground, and he has children, and wishes to get into a healthy suburb. In that case he is allowed to do so, but the bank vent is deducted off his salary every month, and he pays his suburban rent as well. In this institution, which is probably the wealthiest bank in Australasia, ledgeikeepers in. the larger city offices of New Zealand receive fiom £iOO to £110 per annum ; in country offices from £80 to £120 or so. Tellers in the city offices draw from £150 to £200, aud in the

countiy fiom £150 to £175 per annum, and in both cases pay all shortages. An ollicer of this bank is considered to " have made exceptional headway should his salary reach £200 per annum after sixteen years service. No doubt the public will wonder how sucli a state of things exists, and who is to blame. This information the. officers of the bank aie ignorant of, as, the heacMof the bank in New Zealand and managers have fought hard for years bark to have the pay of their staff brought to a living and reasonable figure, but without avail. The boaid of directors is in London, and all increases yearly go for sanction to London, aud after being passed there are forwarded to Melbourne, where no doubt they receive further punishment. There are hundieds of officials of this bank all over !Xew Zealand, as they have been resigning for years. .Should any one doubt my information I can sai'ely refer him to any of theni. — I am, etc., KX-BANKER. Wellington, 10th November, 1909.