BANKING HOURS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21935, 1 February 1946, Page 4

BANKING HOURS

EXTENSION URGED

TO 3 P.M. ON WEEK DAYS

SATURDAY OPENING ALSO

An effort to have the hours banks remain open to the public extended to 3 p.m. each week-day and for the banks to continue to open on Saturday mornings is to oe made by the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce.

In view of the latest developments regarding Saturday closing, some extension of hours was considered possible.

With the return of servicemen, the staffing problems should be overcome and this would be sufficient justification for making representations again. This was the decision of Wednesday night’s meeting of the chamber. The suggestion was that the dosing hour could be extended to 3 p.m., or possibly later, and that on Saturdays the banks should be closed all day.

This was favourably considered, and a further suggestion that banks should open on Friday evenings to enable businesses to bank after the late shopping night instead of holding large sums of money over the week-end was made. In this case Saturday would be closed also.

A motion to this effect was proposed by Group Captain G. H. Nicholls and seconded by Mr. H. R. Kendon.

Saturday Opening

An amendment put by Mr. R. G. Clare that the banking hours should be extended to 3 p.m. and that Saturday opening, as at present, should be retained was subsequently adopted. Mr. Clare pointed out that closing on Saturday meant a big difference to transport and shipping concerns. Both these industries operated on Saturdays and were anxious that the banks should remain open to do business. The amendment was seconded by Mr. I. J. Quigley and became the motion upon the withdrawal of the original motion.

Mr. M. F. Robinson proposed that banks should close on Saturdays and work longer week-day hours. His amendment lapsed for want of a seconder.

Mr. L. C. D. Stewart stated the banics’ position. He said that the banks were there for the convenience of the .’public. Any recommendation for alteration in hours would be given every consideration. The position in Gisborne was that they could quite well close on Saturday mornings. Mr. L. F. Sarten agreed with this stating that he thought an extension to 3 p.m. would be a good thing. He did not see that there was sufficient demand to warrant the banks remaining open on Saturdays. Last Monday, when thev were open, few people made use of them, the day being a public holiday. Tt was decided that Saturday opening with week-day public hours to 3 p.m. should be pressed for and that the associated banks be approached in the matter.