BANKER'S JUBILEE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 107, 2 November 1923, Page 10

BANKER'S JUBILEE

A LONG LOOK BACKWARD

PKESENTATION OF PLATE,

During a presentation of plate from members of the Bank of New Zealand's service in New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji, made by Mr, E. B. Rigg (Staff Inspector), who has retired after 50 years of service with the bank, some interesting remarks were made on personal qualities, promotions, and pensions. Mr. Henry Buckleton (General Manager), who made the presentation, described Mr. Bigg's, service as the longest in the history, of the bank. Incidentally, Mr. Buckleton remarked that the recipient must not look upon the intrinsic value of the plate as a measure of regard, because, in deference to his well known views on the subject, the individual subscriptions to the gift were limited to a trifling amount. Mr. Buckleton also said : "No one knows so well as I do what a good friend you have been to the members of the staff. Yon have always fonght their battles and left I no stone unturned to secure to them adequate remuneration' and comfortable working conditions. More especially in eases of illness and other misfortunes /our recommendations have ever teen for generous treatment. Your knowledge of the various members of the staff ib most extensive, and in my opinion your judgment regarding their capabilities extremely sound." Continuing, the General Manager remarked fchat the high position which Mr. Rigg had attained in the tank's service was a tribute to his ability, industry, and faithfulness; and an encouragement to his younger brother oliicers to emulate his example. Mr. Buckleton recalled the fact that it was 34 years since he first served with Mr. Bigg, his immediate superior,' in ihe Sydney office. Mr. Corkill, chief inspector, was also in the_ Sydney office it that time. Concluding, the General Manager said' no doubt the severance of Mr. Bigg's long connection with 'the great institution (and it was indeed i great institution) must be saddening for a while; but all hoped. Mr. Rigg, with Mrs. Bigg; would be spared for nariy years to enjoy the fruits of his ife labours, f Personally Mr. Bucklecon acknowledged the great help Mr. Aigg had been to himself. Mr. John Bright, accountant, North ?-nd Branch, speaking on behalf of the taff generally, congratulated Mr. Bigg': n the very fair and able manner in vhich he had treated the staff. The losition of staff inspector was one very iifficult to fill, but the staff as a whole veve well satisfied with the treatment eceived at Mr. Bigg's hands. Mr. Bigg, in reply for himself and Mrs. Bigg, thanked the staff for its nice present, which would, of course, always bo greatly treasured as a memento of his long service in the oank. Actually Mr. Virtue, for many years manager at Akaroa, had served longer than he did, out ho joined the bank when ho was 12 years old." It really does not seem so very long ago," said Mr. Bigg, "when I joined the bank. "When I joined, the itaff numbered 203; now there are 1360. Then there were only three railways in New Zealand—those leading from the cities to the ports—no telephone, and no cables. The mail to Auckland from Dunedin went every ten days. "I have, on the whole, enjoyed the service. I did not want-to be a banksr, but I have just made the best of it, md have had a good deal of luck." He was pleased to hear it was admitted that he had done the best he could for the staff. The trouble was that they had a very big staff, all of whom wanted to get to the front at once. Moreover, they married early, and their wives were always ambitious. He did not think any young wife thought her Husband was.being pushed on as quickly as he ought to be. In the ten years that he had had to do with the staff, he had always been tuided by what was the best for the bank. One could not promote a man because he was a good fellow, •or one's Friend. As for himself he had studied each man's good as far as he could; and would move a single man away from i country place when lig learned that there was no suitable young woman there for him'; but of course the man did not know the reason why he was moved. "For a young man," Mr. Rigg expalined, "the only way to rise is to qualify himself for the next man's job, not expecting to rise simply by seniority; he must work hard and show that he has some ability." The staff had a liberal board and a liberal general manager, and it was very well treated now. In addition to better pay they had better pensions. "I remember," remarked Mr. Rigg, in concluding, "when the pension was started, and the subscription was 1 per cent. Some_ of the men growled at having to pay it, but the manager at Dunedin, Mr. Ferrier, said: 'Consider thai your salary has been reduced 1 per cent., and do not bother about it.' A pension is i very good thing, and even one of only £200 to £300 a year is not what, you get when leaving- a merchant's office. And that has to be taken into'consideration when arriving at the value of a position in a bank. During ray term of office as Staff Inspector we had ono great innovation—women clerks. I do not know what we would have done without; them during the war. They do their work well, but not all the young men approved of the innovation. We are not encouraging the women to expect to attain high positions, because I do not' think they could rise to them utv- I less they served 15 or 20 years. I hopa ' before that period has elapsed they will all be happily married." . Mr. John Mac Gibbon, another of tjia inspectors stationed at the Head Office,, yesterday took over the duties which for the past eleven years have been ful- • filled by .Mr. Rigg.