Banking in Otautau.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 102, 16 April 1907, Page 5

Banking m Otautau.

PUBLIC MEETING TO PROMOTE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A EANK.

\ "A bird m the hand is worth two m the bush," is an old saying with a great deal of truth embodied m it, and it may be that the bird is not exactly m the hand yet as far as having a bank m Otautau is concerned, but if Thursday evening's meeting is an indication of the earnestness of the rest of the community, then there is a pretty determined hunt on to ensure that the bird will be m hand at no distant date. The promoters of the proposal to get a permanent branch of a bank established m the township must feel gratified at the response io their appeal. The meeting was hearty, well attended, and responsive to the movement. It was representative, and proceeded on lines sucl^ as to assist iv bringing about the result desired with as little delay as possible. j The chairman of the Town Board ' (Mr A. M. Swhan) presided, and of those present there was a fair representation from a widely ' scattered area, among them being : Messrs King sen. and jun., Scatter, Ros_, Thompson, Tapper, Greenslade, S. J. Barwell, J. Lindsay, McLaren, Joseph Swap, John Swap, R. Ford, Carmichael, Tern- i pleton, R. Walker, VV. Walker, ; Arthur, Small, W. Bradley, Pater- j son, Jacquiery, Games, Holt, Ham- ' ilton, Fisher and James Collie. j

The Town Clerk read the notice convening the meeting, after which Mr Swhan (chairman) moved : " That m the opinion of this meeting the time has arrived when it is desirable that a bank should be opened m Otautau." In support, Mr Swhan paid that the present arrangements were not' satisfactory, and the growth of the town and district demanded better banking facilities than existed. Mr Joseph Swap, m seconding, strongly urged systematic and determined effort being made to get a bank. They had failed m previous efforts because they had not followed the effort up with vigour and determination. The district was not getting fair treatment by the banks. They were simply being made a convenience of by the present system, and the sooner they wakened up to demand what

they were entitled to the better for themselves. Mr Tapper asked if it was in-^' tended to give preference to any particular bank. He believed an application now to one of the banks temporarily doing business would result m the desired end being attained. The chairman replied that tfye first bank coming was the one that would get the support. — The motion was carried unanimously. | Mr F. B. King moved, and Mr G. M. Ross seconded, that a, committee, consisting of Messrs Joseph Swap, John Swap, D. Miirchison, F. B. King, A. M. Swhan, James Collie, John Lindsay, John Barwell, James King, R. Scatter, R. Ford and J. Fisher be set up (with power to add to number), to take such steps as may assist m the establishment of a bank m Otautau, and that they he authorised to canvass the district for support, and report to a future meeting the result. The mover and seconder, Messrs Bar well, Carmichael, Bradley, fisher and Tapper all spoke m support of the motion and the necessity for going on practical lines of getting definite promises to support the firßt Bank permanently establishing a branch m Otautau. The motion was carried unanimously. ' A motion by Mr King and Mr Joseph Swap that a contribution ! of 2s 6d each be collected from all those who are prepared to support , the proposal to cover the cost of a | thorough canvass of the district 1 was carried, as against an amendment that the cost be borne bj the tradespeople of the town iv equal prpportion. A good round amount was paid m the room towards this work. A meeting of the committee was held. a*, the close of the public Labeling, when Mr Swhan was , elected, chairman, and Mr J Fisher secretary. The secretary was authorised tc ; circulate a letter at the sale or

Friday, intimating the result of the meeting, and asking for guarantees of support.

Messrs Swhan, Joseph Swap, E. Scatter, John Lindsay and the secretary were appointed a committee to wait on the County Council at next meeting, and get their support.

As a result of a canvass already undertaken by the secretary, the promises of support, attested by signatures, to give the support and business to the first bank opening m Otautau, the response has exceeded the committee's most sanguine expectations, aDd should prove a strong inducement towards a favourable reply from any bank approached.

The lists are open for signature at the office of the secretary m the Town Hall, Mr F. B. King's, chemist, Main street, Mr G. M. Boss's, clothier, Main street, and with the chairman (Mr Swhan) at Messrs Swhan and Brass's.