RUN ON BANK STOPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20864, 5 May 1931, Page 9

RUN ON BANK STOPS.

STAT® OFFICE BUSY.

SAD PLIGHT OF MANY.

reliance on savings.

SMALL PAYMENTS MADE. INQUIRIES RESENTED. ByTeleurn'ph —Press Association-Copyright. (Received May 5, 12.15 a.m.) SYDNEY. May i. Sir Robert Gibson's message to the people'over the air last evening made a deep impression. Tho immediate outcome was that a large number of new accounts were opened in tho Commonwealth Savings Bank to-day, and also there was a return of a number of former customers. Tho bank's officials worked at high pressure /.ill day. The money paid in bv far exceeded tho withdrawals. The, State Savings Bank's head office was besieged this morning, when it was opened for payment of tho small allowances arranged for necessitous cases. As the morning progressed and tho demands at'-'both savings banks were dealt with expeditiously, the anxiety abated, and by noon conditions were approaching normal. The manner in which tho continued unemployment is taking toll of the workers' savings was tragically illustrated at the New South Wales Government Savings Bank's headquarters to-day, when tho doors were opened to enablo necessitous depositors to receive their rationed allowances

Girls who have been out of work for months formed the majority of those in the long queue. When noon approached hundreds of people invaded the palatial banking chamber and chatted about their troubles.

Payment for medical treatment during Jong illnesses had impoverished some of tho depositors, others were at their wit's end to know what was going to happen if they were unable to operate on their accounts.

Some of the depositors said their responsibilities had been doubled, owing to their having to support relatives who were out of employment. Many were attracted by the bank's advertising slogan, which is prominently displayed: "The Money You Save May Save You." There was considerable congestion at some of the suburban branches, where every now and again an indignant depositor expressed resentment at having to tell his or her private business, in order to satisfy the bank officials of his or her diro necessity.