IDLE BANK BUILDINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 112, 14 May 1931, Page 5

IDLE BANK BUILDINGS

OVER £2,000,000 STRUCTURE. One of the difficulties to be faced in the merger whereby the New South Wales Government Savings Bank wil) become part of the Commonwealth Savings Bank is the use of the many bank buildings of the Government Savings Bank. There is a fine building in every important suburb of Sydney, and in some suburbs which are not important. The building has not merely banking accommodation, but also a residence. The post office near by may be not nearly as impressive and not as large, yet there the manifold duties imposed upon that section of the public, service are conducted, in addition to banking. So in most country towns. It is clear that the doubling of bank ing cannot be conducted in the present congested post office premises, however, together with the growing business of other kinds. In these circumstances the Commonwealth Bank may give som# thought to the use of the buildings of the Government Savings Bank.

An enormous amount of money is invested in these structures. Added to the £2,00(1,009 spent on the headquarters in Sydney, says the correspondent of the Melbourne Argus, the total would astonish the multitude. The expenditure seemed to be well justified in good times, but as soon ns bad times shed a baleful light on them there was talk of unjustifiable extravagance.