'Attractive Banknotes'

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31115, 19 July 1966, Page 3

'Attractive Banknotes'

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 18. New Zealand’s deci- ; mal banknotes may prove to be among the world’s most attractive, according to the Governor of the Re- ; serve Bank, Mr G. Wilson. Mr Wilson, however, has applied strict security to designs of the banknotes until the change is made so as to avoid any attempts at forgery. This means that New Zealanders will not see the designs until shortly before the time for the switch to decimal currency. No date has yet been I fixed for their release, but

the governor expects the Reserve Bank will fbllow the Australian procedure—publication a fortnight before. The only details disclosed on the notes at this stage are the denominations, the general motif using birds, and the colours. These will follow the shades used on the present notes with the exception of the five-dollar bill, which has no equivalent in current use. This one is almost certain to be bright yellow. The governor will not confirm whether or not the notes have borders. The borderless variety issued in Australia caused considerable controversy. He is confident, however, that the notes will be acceptable to the general public. "I will be extremely disappointed—amazed in fact —if our opinion of the notes is not confirmed by the people.

“And I hope that they will take pride in them, for 1 think that the designs being used are the most outstanding I have seen anywhere,” he said. Mr Wilson bases this on the Reserve Bank's examinations of large numbers of notes supplied from many countries. The company in England engaged for NewZealand’s note printing has a big sample supply on file. “I am quite satisfied that, when this firm seeks similar contracts in other countries in the future, our notes will be the first it displays to customers," said Mr Wilson. The situation at present is that the note printers are working on the completion of the designs. This takes considerable time, but the bulk of the order should be on hand in New Zealand well before DC Day.