RESERVE BANK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21855, 18 July 1934, Page 12

RESERVE BANK

PIiEI'AIiATION OF PREMISES CURIOSITY DISCOURAGED POLICY OF SECRECY [BY TKLEGRArH OWN COBHKSPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Tneeday A new bank in the process of establishing if self in its home is not the easiest place for members of the public seeking to satisfy a natural curiosity as to how the work is proceeding. This has been brought home to many who have shown more than a passing interest in the New Zealand Reserve Bank in the Dominion Farmers' Institute Building.

At the beginning of next mouth the. new bank will open its doors to the public. From that time on, to request more than a restricted view of the executive offices jfnd grated counters would be plainly unreasonable. There will be more of the public's money hidden away for protection than probably in any other building in New Zealand, but the fact that the bank is yet innocent of cash does not alter the position in this respect. Surveillance has been even more strict.

From about a month ago, when the work of preparing the Reserve Bank's offices wa.s begun, all unofficial visitors have been kept carefully at a distance and,, according to present signs, they will be still more completely disappointed irom now until the opening dav.

"Whatever sort of interest the Wellington public may have in seeing in their own city how a modern bank is made secure and burglar proof," remarked one of the officials to-day, "if we could help it we wouldn't even let them know in what part of the building are our vaults. It is better in the interests of both parties to give nothing away at all." This policy the bank is following; more closely as the day approaches when the last touches will have been given to the basement vaults, on which until recently men were working night and day in strengthening them according to the latest methods; to the Dominion farmers' conference hall on the ground floor, which has been transformed into the main public office; and to the third floor of the building, most of which contains the executive offices. Actually the staff has been in the premises for some days. It is no secret that little has been spared in making the premises as formidably secure as those of any other bank in New Zealand. More formidable still from the point of view of those members of the public who know nothing of the interior mysteries of construction, but who would like to know, is the presence "of officials guarding the outer doors. This surveillance is kept day and night. Anyone getting out of the lift, even on the fhird floor, is politely asked his business before he goes auy farther.