BANK OFFICERS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 143, 21 June 1929, Page 14

BANK OFFICERS

ANNUAL SMOKE CONCERT

SUCCESS OF THE GUILD

I Tho Now Zealand Bank Officers' Guild annual sniokc concert was held last evening. The president, Mr. E. A. Dixou, occupied the chair and amongst those present were Sir Henry 'Buckle-, toil, Messrs. F. "\V. Dawson, R. W. Westoby, 11. \V. Gibbs (Bank of Now Zealand), 'E. P. Yaldwyn (Commercial Bank), W. L. Ward, J. A. M'Leod (Bank of Australasia), A. Kiely, T. P. Fotheringham (Union Bank of Australia), H. B. Gordon, A. Hamilton, E. Moffaf (National Bank of New Zealand), S. M. Heath, Alexander Paul (Bank .of New South Wales), J. W. Barton, S.M., and Alexander Macintosh. In proposing "The Banks" the chairman said that with regard to salaries the banks, it must be admitted, treated their officers weli. There were certain anomalies but theae. wore being gradually removed. Besponding to the toast, Sir Henry Buckloton said the affairs of the guild had been conducted in such a way as to meet with tho approbation of the banks, and he thought that was due in a great measure to the wisdom with which they had selected their officebearers. It had been his experience that tho domestic committeo of the Bank of New Zealand were very reasonable in their reqquests. When the bank's point of view was presented to them they usually saw the force of the argument. In the Bank of New Zealand they had over 1500 officers. Ho defied any man to deal out ,eveu-,hand-ed justice to such a large staff. With every desire to do fullest justice to overy officer, he would think he was very fortunate indeed if he could complete hia service without doing very much injustice. He always invited the committee' to speak to him with the utmost frankness. The management was, of course, mainly guided by the reports of the managers and inspectors, and if an officer happened to be overlooked, it >\vas usually not long before justice was done to him. The duty of the general manager in dealing with a largo staff was not so oasy a^ many might think. He paid a hig tribute to the interest which Mr.' B. W. Gibbs, now- a member of the Board of Directors and for many years on the staff of the. bank, had' always taken in the officors of the institution. The. chairman had alluded to the liberal granting of sick leave. Sir Henry said he had never known the board to turn down any recommendation put before them }vith respect to sick leave. The authorities of tho banks were, most sympathetic'to their staffs. For many years in the past the pay of officers was inadquatc, but he thought the management was making it up to the officers now; and tho older officers derived some recompense by reasoon of the pension system. In addition to the pension to the officer, a pension was paid to his widow on his death; and he hoped as the years went by that the pension would be increased. It must be a very fine thing for a man to know that when he; passed away his widow wonld have enough to live on. As to annual leave, he had been opposed to tlie granting of three weeks, thinking a fortnight sufficient. He had always thought it bet-ter-to increase the emoluments of an officer rather than give increased holidays. * EFFICIENT SERVICE. The opportunities for educational improvement had been taken full advantage of by the officers, and tho banks had reaped a decided benefit in the increased^ efficiency of the staff. The management did not want the guild to slacken up in any way in that respect. There was every reason why the younger officers should aspire to and fit themselves for the higher officos. In addiI tion to educational improvement, he advib 'officers to cultivate a cheerful disposition. However capable a man i might be, a bad manner minimised the ' value of his services. He was afraid | that too often officers were rather curt with customers. The only way in which the- bank's business could be increased was by service to its customers. It was important when customers came to transact business that they should be dealt vrth promptly and cheerfully. The banks wero up against very strong competition from outside sources, and ;he was afraid that that competition I would become still more pronounced. There was never a time when it was i more necessary that, the staffs should render efficient service than at tho pre- ] sent. Sir Henry referred to the good work dono by Mr. Alexander Macintosh in connection with the Steps taken to assist those officers who had struck bad times. The speaker said he had followed in Mr. Macintosh's.footsteps as far as he possibly could In that respect. A sum had been set aside to provide for cases that did not come within the rules of the pension fand; and assistance by way of bonus had been given to officers under exceptional circumstances. In view of the excellent relations that existed between the executive of tho guild and tho management, he thought it could be safely --aid that tho guild had not failed in attaining the objects for which it was established. The chairman remarked that Sir Henry Buckleton's speech showed that he had the interest of the officers at heart.. He was sure that the staffs were pleased at the honour of Knighthood which had been recently conferred on Sir Henry Buckleton. Sir Henry Buckleton replied that he regarded the honour as a tribute to the

banks in New Zealand more than as a personal honour. Mr. E. P. Yaldwyn said he had been struck with the curious lack of literature on banking history. Banking was a romantic profession, and there were very surprising facts in connection with its history if. one delved a little under the surface. Banks existed In Athens 2300 years ago, and there were banks in the principal cities, of Italy in very early times. "SPIRIT OF THE GUILD." Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., proposed the toast, of "The Guild." Ho told some amusing stories of his' own early days as a bank officer. From what ho had seen of the working of the guild, it seemed to him that it had captured the true spirit of a guild. He noticed that during the. week the executive had been in touch . with the Minister of | Labour. It waa right that the guild j should havo something in common with the labour, unions, but he was pleased that it possessed the spirit of the guilds. The members of the guilds of medieval Europe and, of later times, as well as of England,. were first of all craftsmen. The binding element in the constitution of the guild was pride in the craft and pride in workmanship. They had not to seek compulsion in the way of preference to unionists; and there was never any struggle in securing work for a member of the guild. Amongst the activities of the Banking Officers' Guild was that of encouraging | the study of banking -principles and banking legislation and methods. It. eneouragedits members to become well- \ instructed bankers. That was excellent. It did much to bring about the existing 'pleasant relationship between the guild and the banks, and augured well for the future of banking. He thought, the advice of Sir Henry Buckleton in regard to the cultivation of cheerfulness and courtesy to customers was excellent. Mr. Barton then made some suggestions aB one of the examiners of candidates for the banking, diploma. He urged candidates to seek to improve thsir grasp^of English, firstly in the use of correct English and secondly by improving their'powers of expressing just what they meant. The toast was responded to by Mr Alexander Macintosh, and by the general secretary (Mr. H. P. Mourant). i Mr. Macintosh related gome interesting experiences of his early banking days and showed the improvements in the conditions of work and the financial reward which had gradually taken place. He spoke of the excellent work done by the guild, which had become an intermediary between the staff and the management If only for that reason it had justified its existence. The toast of. "Visitors" was proposed by Mr. Alexander Paul, and was responded to by Mr. J. Schofield. Excellent musical and otheri items were rendered at' intervals during tho evening.