BANK OFFICER'S JUBILEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20130, 15 December 1928, Page 10

BANK OFFICER'S JUBILEE.

MR. BUCKLETON'S RECORD, FIFTY YEARS OF WORK, "FATHER OF THE —— RISE TO GENERAL MANAGERSHIP ; [BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPOND WELLINGTON, Brid'ay. Seated at the desk of the general' man*j ager of the Bank of New Zealand to-daj Mr. Henry Buckleton beamed geniailj through his spectacles and admitted thai to-morrow he will complete 50 years g«» vice with the bank. But, while the neat attainment of his jubilee find# Jtj; Buckleton in the highest executm pogj in the gift of the bank, he resolatdy fused to be convinced that the event could hold any possible interest for those outside' the family circle or the service of the bank.

Such is the unassumed modesty o£ Mr« Buckleton. By the strength of his own character and ability he ha* won his way in the world. There waa no special influence at work to give him 8 flying start in the race of life. Bat so cH* gently did he apply himseli to his work, and so thorough a grasp of banking 'did he reveal that be was earljf marked down as "a man who wOl rise.'? So, when the position of general manages of the bank became vacant in 1920, Mr* Buckleton's appointment in succession to Mr. William Callendar was no surprises He had reached the top rung at the conn paratively early age of 55. A dangerous confession is made by Mr, Buckleton to his intimate friends in Wellington. It is that his heart is in Auckland. Long residence there brought him many treasured associations, particularly with men of affairs in the city* For eight years he was accountant in the bank in Auckland, whither he later returned as manager, a position he filled wih distinction for 14 years, the period immediately prior to his appointment as general manager with headquarters in Wellington. " Mr. Buckleton largely increased the bank's business in Auckland," said Sir Harold Beauchamp, who was for nearly 15 years chairman of directors. " Then, in addition to being a remarkably good banker, Mr. Buckleton has a particularly keen business sense, and that has been generally recognised by the bank's customers, who consult him frequently in connection with their business interests." •d Position no Sinecure. Mr. Buckleton has lived for the bank, and his keen interest in the work of the institution has never flagged. Blessed by robust health—his aggreate sick leave has totalled only 10 weeks in 50 years—be breasts the jubilee tape with every prospect of a much longer race yet to run* He makes his post no sinecure, and, apart from a little relaxation at the week-ends, usually in the form of a motor drive, he has little leisure. Not yet, even, has he succumbed to the fascination of bowls. Until about six years ago Mr. Buckleton wielded a vigorous racquet on the tennis court., and his tennis associations are among the most pleasant of his Auckland recollections. Mr. Justice Reed, Sir George Elliot, present chairman of directors of the bank, and others prominent in the life of Auckland, will bear testimony to Mr. Buckleton's prowess in the yean thai have fled.

Son of Sir George Bnckleton, journalist, Mr. Bnckleton was born in Sydnej in 1865. It. is said that as a lad he assisted his father in the many-sided work of producing a country newspaper, but there his connection with journalism ceased. An acquaintance with a teller in the Sydney branch of the bank led to Sir. Buckleton's decision to pursue a strictly commercial bent, and ho joined the staff of the Sydney branch on December 16, 1878. His salary was £SO a year. Mr. Buckleton remained in the city of his birth until the end of 1891, when he proceeded to Melbourne as acting accountant.

From Victoria Mr. Buckleton was in May, 1892, transferred to New Zealand, being appointed accountant at Hamilton. Exactly a year later he left to take up the more important post of accountant at Auckland. After eight years there Mr. Buckleton received his first managership, being transferred to New Plymouth with that promotion in May. 1901 and remaining there until Octobtr. when he was sent to the head office, Wellington, as acting chief inspector. Retnrning to Auckland as manager in February, 1906, Mr. Buckleton remained in the north until' February, IS2O. Wane manager at Auckland he made 8 world tour in the interests of the bank- He left at the end of 1913 and was absent for 13 months. More recently—m 19Z5 Mr. Buckleton again visited the Mother Country, his tour on that occasion being more in the nature of _ a holiday, and he returned to the Dominion by way of the East.

Expansion of Business. As an indication of the growth of tKd Bank of New Zealand within the experience of Mr. Buckleton. figures from the balance sheets for the years ending March, 1879, and March, 1928. may be cited. The following comparative figures trace the expanding trend:— 1879 £ * Capital 725.000 6.771.198 Reserve .. t< 350.000 Circulation »« 527,777 Dooosits .. S . 7.715.876 30.SM Bills payable .. 2.246.760 3.^.?^ Balance, P. and I/. 89,128 1,149.163 "Father of the service" is a title td which Mr. Buckleton is now entitled, for, to the best of his belief, no officer has been longer in the employ of the Bans of New Zealand than he. , Mr. Buckleton was married in 1894 to Gertrude, the eldest daughter of the late Mr. W, A. Graham, of Hamilton. The elder of his two sons, Mr. R. G. Bnckleton, is also an officer in the hank at Wellington, while the vouneer son. Mr. J. D. Buckleton, is on the staff o a commercial firm in Wellington. Trie daughters are Mrs. A. I. "Walk"'". o Kiwitahi, Waikato. Mrs. G. C. Sh?rpe. of Sydnev, and Miss Jean Buckleton, ot Oriental Bay. Wellington.