POPULAR BANKER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 270, 29 October 1932, Page 6

POPULAR BANKER

FAREWELL TO MR. M. B. PEAT TRIBUTES TO HIS SERVICES. GATHERING IN HASTINGS. A large number of customers of the local branch of the National Bank of New Zealand met in the Hastings Hotel lounge yesterday afternoon to bid farewell to Mr. M. B. Peat, who has been transferred to the managership of the bank’s Dargaville branch. Mr. Peat is the only one of the local bank managers who was not transferred after the earthquake and given relief from the strenuous work that the banks were called upon to do for so long after the disaster, and his transfer to Dargaville has been made to enable him to occupy a less trying position temporarily. The great esteem that Mr. Peat has won for himself since he has been in Hastings was made clear in yesterday’s speeches, and the hope that he will be able to return to Hastings was universally expressed by those present at the gathering. Mr. Peat had been not only a most capable manager, said Mr. Cecil Duff, who presided, but he had been able to win the respect and affection of all with whom he had to deal. The more one knew of him, the more one came to like him, and it was gratifying to know that his bank had decided to give him some relief from the great burden of extra work that had been caused by the earthquake. It was a habit in some quarters to criticise the banks, Mr. Duff continued, but every businessman appreciated very greatly the advantages of our banking system, and had a great regard for the organisation that made that system possible. Mr, Peat was a wonderfully astute man and a firm man in his business dealings, but he had combined with those characteristics the gift of making men like him and respect him, and his going away was a matter for the greatest regret to his friends and to the customers of his bank. Speaking on behalf of his father (Mr G. R. Beamish), himself, and his brothers, Mr. Erid Beamish, who described his family as foundation mem bers of the National Bank, said that Mr. Peat had not only performed his duties with credit to himself and to his bank, but also had endeared himself to his customers and to the people generally. He had been a particularly successful manager, and a thoroughly good friend and counsellor. GENEROUS ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE. The local fruitgrowing industry was largely dependent upon the National Bank, and upon Mr. Peat’s advice and assistance, said Mr. C. H. Slater, and Mr. Peat had not only given that advice and assistance most generously, but also to those who knew him and dealt with him he had endeared himself more than might justly have been expected of a man so busy and so much occupied with his duties. The National Bank had been especially fortunate in the type of man that had occupied the managership of the local branch, and Mr. Peat had added greatly to the respect that the bank’s customers had always had for its officers. Mr. Peat had most successfully combined the difficult duties of looking after the interests of his bank as well as the interests of his customers, said Mr. Gordon Roach, and as a citizen he had shown himself as a man deeply imbued with the spirit of community service, which was a thing that bank managers too frequently judged them* selves not to be concerned in. “AU of us greatly admire, ’ ’ Mr. Roach concluded, “the way in which Mr. Peat has carried out his work during the five years that he has been with us.” _ Tributes to the character and services of Mr. Peat were added by Mr. A. F. Redgrave, Mr. W. B. Hobbs, and Mr. R. D. Brown, and Mr. Duff expressed on behalf of those present best wishes to Mrs. Peat, “who,” he said, “has made possible Peat as we know him.” Mr. Duff then handed Mr. Peat a pair of field glasses as a gift from the bank’s customers and a gift for Mrs. Peat.

MR. PEAT’S REPLY. Mr. Peat in reply expressed his regret at leaving Hawke’s Bay, and added that his head office had apparently concluded that he was ready for a spell from the strenuous times that the local branch had had to face since the earthquake. He had greatly appreciated the pleasure of his five years in Hastings, and had been much struck by the spirit of goodfellowship and comradeship that existed among the people of the town. Especially after the earthquake there had been a marvellous spirit of goodfellowship and comradeship, and it was unfortunate that it too often needed a disaster like the earthquake to arouse that spirit. It was a pity that it could not always exist as it had existed then. “We are not here for long,” said Mr. Peat, “and we might as well be happy while we can.” Mr. Peat concluded by saying: “Hastings is a particularly fine town, and this is a great country. It needs only a slight turn of the Wheel, and we shall be on the up-grade again once again.” STAFF FAREWELL. After close of business yesterday, opportunity was taken by the staff of the National Bank of New Zealand, Ltd., to farewell its Hastings manager, Mr. M. B. Peat, who has been transferred to take charge of Whangarei branch. In a few 1 well chosen words, the accountant, Mr. A. K. Collins, expressed the deep regret of the staff on losing such a popular manager, and thanked him for the consideration shown to the staff at all times. As token of the esteem in which Mr. Peat is held, he was presented by the staff with a desk-clock and a travelling rug. Mr. Peat suitably responded. PRESENTATION BY ORPHANS. A large number of members of the Hastings Orphans’ Club assembled at the National Bank of New Zealand Chambers at Hastings this morning to,

At the rabbitskin sale held in Wellington yesterday winters were in keen demand at prices 6d to lid better than the September sale quotations, while low grades appreciated 2d to 4d. “The British motor industry is not only holding its own in the colonies but sales are mounting by leaps and bounds in many of the Domiions,” says Mr S. G. K. Smallbone, of Oxford. England, director and secretary of Morris Motors Ltd. Negotiations for raising a loan of £70,600 in London to reoeem debentures maturing there on October 31 have been virtually finalised, it was officially learned yesterday. The Mayor of Christchurch says that the loan is being obtained at a satisfactory rate of interest which should result in a saving to the ratepayers. The large margin existing between the factory cost of certain goods and the r /il price was the subject of discussion at the meeting of the Dominion executive of the Farmers’ Union this week. One delegate said he knew of a stock remedy selling at £3 3,- for which the ingredients cost lid. It was decided to ask the Department of Industries and Commerce to undertake an investigation, when details of specific cases could be collected. The advantages of steel clips instead of twine for fastening wool bales were considered at the meeting of the Dominion executive of the Farmers’ Union this week. It was stated that clips had been used in Australia for five years, and that there had been complaints that when the bales were secured by sewing there was a tendency for fragments of twine and jute to mingle with the wool. The executive decided to ask for the views oi woollen millers and brokers.

bid farewell to Past Chief Orphan M. B. Peat, who leaves on Monday for Whangarei. When making a presen tation of a travelling rug, Chief Orphan D. A. Bathgate expressed the club’s regret at losing such a valued member as Mr Peat, who had given most valued service, not only as an executive mem ber, but also as a social member of the club. “If we could get more members like Mr Peat the club would be much better,” said the Chief Orphan. “Our departing brother orphan has al ways upheld the highest traditions of the club, and had associated himself with one and all in the true club spirit of friendship and good fellowship. We wish him and his family every happiness, health and prosperity in his new sphere.” Other speakers were Deputy-Chief E. V. Simpson, Past Chief Orphans H. W. C. Baird, J. Bewley, and C. Duff, all of whom endorsed Chief Orphan Bathgate’s expressions. Mr Peat suitably replied and introduced his successor Mr McLean.