Evidence Of Fear Complex In Banks

Chronicle (Levin), 22 February 1949, Page 7

Evidence Of Fear Complex In Banks

WELLINGTON, Feb. 21. The hearing of the claim for an award by New Zealand bank oflicials was continued in the Aribitration Court today before Mr. Justice Tyndall., Ceeil Keatley Hamilton Donnell, a former first teller in the Wellington i branch of the United Bank of AustraJia, Ltd., who resigned in 1913, said in : evidence th'at he was required to work J at lngh pressure. He joined the bana.' ; in 1921. The bank tried to avoid the payment of overtinie as a niatter of policy, he said, two main inethods being used. "I know that when a man I would record his time on many occa- 1 sions -the times that he reeorded in the attendance book were altered to lesser. times by the controlling ollicers after. the employee had signed the book," witness said. His Honour: Just a minute till I get the first thing right. According to you j there is a school for forgery conductedl in the Union Bank. Do you suggest that responsible officers^ would alter things? Witness: Yes. His Honour: No wonder we liave a lot of forgers around the country if that is correct — and I iind it liard to believe — however, you are on oatli. To the advocate for the union witness said that there was a fear complex among bank empioyees. His Honour: What were thej afraid of? Witness: They were frightened oi earniiig the displeasure of" controlling ollicers that would result in a reduction of salary, non-promotion' or various ludigjiities that would force them mto a position ... I have evcii had the experieiice of beiug vvamed by a conIrolliug officer that it would be bctter for my banking career if I dropped uiy "Bolshic" attit'ude. ILis Honour: So you were a "Bolshic, " were you? Witness: Oli, no, sir. I was standiug up for the rights of myself and my lellows in this. Witness said he could not recall a specilic occasion ou which his own liours were altered, but could naine a doz.cn who had had it happen to them. When witness nained several employees Mr. Brunt (advocate for the union ) asked for an assurance that no action would be taken against them. Later Mr. Brunt asked the Court 's permission to ' preseut written stateinents by juuior officers about the aiterations to ditties in the attendance book. Jolni Stuart Nelson, a bill ,clerk; corroborated the prcvious evidence that bank employee, s were told to leave early to ensure they did not work more thau an SO-Jiour fortnight and.'that the.v were obligod often to work at liigh pressure to get work done vvithin the time. lle said he liad faked his arrival times to Ihe benofit of the bank. It was for reasons of fear as well as loyalty that lie did this. He realised. continued witness, that if he remained in trading bank em-ployment.he would have to ac- : ccpt transi'ers and have no opportunity to establish a pei'iuanent hoine for many years and probably not till he resigned or retired. i For this -reason he had recently resigned to, take up an appointment with th'e Bes.erve Bank as from March 2. He would therefore have no fear of any action against liim becausc of his appearance in court to give this evidence. The Court adjourned until tomorrow.