CLERKS' UNION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1787, 5 November 1919, Page 4

CLERKS' UNION.

BANK OFFICERS PROTEST. A GUILD FORMED. A meeting of bank officers was held last evening in the Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of formulating a protest against their inclusion in the Christchureh Clerks', Cashiers', and Office Employees' Union. Mr M. J. Gresson presided and there were about 80 bank officers present. The chairman explained that it was proposed to form a New Zealand Bank Officers' Guild. Speaking as a solicitor he said that the solicitors would strenuously object to the Clerks' Union covering lawyers' clerks. He understood that bank clerks took a similar view. The conditions in each profession were entirely different, and it was absurd to place bank clerks in the same category as clerks in tradesmen's offices. Addressing the meeting Mr' H. P. Mourant expressed his pleasure that there were so many bank officers present. He urged the formation of a New Zealand Bank Officers' Guild. The guild was out to assist bank men and goodness only knew they needed assistance. (Applause.) They needed financial assistance —many of them were on the rocks. (Laughter.) The guild was the tug that would take them off. They were not a band of malcontents waving a red flag in one hand and in the other a pistol levelled at the managements of the banks. They were a company of gentlemen and as such were going to achieve more and in quicker time than if they went baldheaded at the bank managements. The guild would meet the bank managements in a spirit of coniciliation, and discuss matters amicably around the table. They I wanted increased salaries, and he believed that if they went about the matter in a quiet reasonable way that the bank executives would respond. It was the acuteness of the cost of living problem that had brought the guild into existence. It was proposed to increase the efficiency of the members of the guild by getting them interested in their job, by reading about banking, and by the establishment of libraries, and lectures, and the endowment of scholarships. The guild wpuld save the banks from an awkward predicament as otherwise the men would be in a mood to listen to the smooth words of a labour union and. then the banks would be up against it with a vengeance. It was resolved:—"That this meeting of Christchureh male bank officers, numbering 83, enter a strong protest against being forced to become members of the Qhristchurch Clerks', Cashiers', ami Office Employees' Industrial Union or Workers, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Conciliation Commissioner." The mover said he considered that the bulk of the union's .statement of claim would be injurious to the best interests of bank officers, and he thought that the union's claims had been put forth as an electioneering device to catch votes. It was then decided that those present should form the nucleus of the Christchureh branch of the guild, and that the Branch Committee should consist of one representative from each of the banks, with the exception of the Bank of New Zealand, which is to have two representatives. Each bank is to forward nominations of its representative to Mr Mourant. Regarding the conference of the guild, the meeting, by resolution, signified its desire that it should.be held a fortnight after the Christmas holidavs.