NO PROOF GIVEN OF ALLEGATIONS LEVELLED AT THE BANKS

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 February 1949, Page 4

NO PROOF GIVEN OF ALLEGATIONS LEVELLED AT THE BANKS

Employers’ Advocate Says Conditions Of Employment Are Good WELLINGTON, Last Night (I’A). —The unfair allegations and statements levelled at the banks as employers had not been substantiated, said Mr. W. J. Mount joy, advocate for the Associated Banks, replying in the Court of Arbitration to submissions and evidence given on behalf of the New Zealand Bark Officers’ Union in the bank officers’ dispute.

There had been no proof given of any instance in which a bank officer suffered unfair treatment because of being unfavourably reported on, Mr. Mountjoy added. H e said there was no proof given that a life of drudgery was endured by bank officers. In his general submissions to the court Mr Mountjoy said that the trading banks had over the last 20 years offered employment that had been sought by workers. Salaries paid by the trading banks over the last eight years had been increased by 31 per cent, whereas award wages for skilled tradesmen had, up to the end of 1947. been increased by only 30 per cent. The rates now offered by the banks compared favourably with those paid in other industries.

It had been said that large numbers of officers were leaving the banks, but th ? staff figures proved this was not so. The terms and conditions of employment in banks were at least equal to, if not better than, those offered by the present Government in the Public Service or by the legal or accountancy professions. The banks strongly opposed the union’s proposal that executive officers should be brought under the provisions of the proposed award, because they had the responsibility of controlling staffs, said Mr Mountjoy. He cited awards in other industries under which executive officers were exempted. H e dealt in detail with points of difference between the union's claims and the counter proposals of the banks on hours of work, salaries, overtime and other provisions.