SPLENDID SLAVERY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 670, 22 November 1909, Page 9

SPLENDID SLAVERY.

.. Sir,—We har&' good;deal of'tho-dcmands of' tho unions, of their unreasohablenossi of thoir : greed .and general insolence. . But if an cxouso is-needed for their existence it is of-' fored: in tho spectaclo of thoso splendid ■ paupers, tho clerks who have been hitherto too proud, too - indolent, or' too-loyal to'their employers to combine. . Of those slaves tho most uitmble- is the bank clerk—not, bo it understood tho employeo, of tho bank of Now. Zealand which pays its workers a living wago and 1 know.s tho word equity—butthe unfortunates - who liavo been caugnt/iby ,-6ome , other banking. institutions. Caught -young,;-with {tempting,- bait—for .the bank; cadets aro onulont ■'in. : coraparisoii with ■most - apprentices—thoso unforluimtos : are* gfcntly, i bVit '. surely,. reduccd... to - tho position of, slaves. They havo no rights,. no. hope's, no: freedom.. , • Tho olegmt cadet of 20 with eight hours and: his or Xl2 l annual rise, at 30 has ; become the impecunious .toller with heavy.. responsibillong hours,, and no Gettled rise. If he. . wtn.SO .'he is; .fortuna.te, if that isum/Jie/is. satisfied.From this on :his ; ■promotion." depends'oh influence',' accident, or, the ■ caprico of the Board .of Managers, sitting tlionsands of miles away. I l ,:'One particular ;banV;. supported'. liberally in ■ this V:countryi . especially ,;by the church and .tho.:municipal'.corporation::has been' chargtfcl in '■ tho: "ltUbiio press with underpaying its:'employees. - -But these are in such Subjection. that ' the' charges • are notpressed home,' and still ; tho institution ■ sails :, on its progressive : and prosperous if parsimonious way. It would bo .intcresfiiigito.linow how in this ,'baik, ; ili l responsible .positions, after 16 years'service,'.' receive. ■ J3180: • per. annum—the' salary claimed ;as a right by young . teachers Svho have Wen , half;that time'.in .the schools., 'There, are tellers, :.men of integrity, who have'. contentedly plodded for. 1G years, who receive V 0165 per annum, and who, if they." should demand to marry ;would bo •told to go.. '. .t:.'".:•. ■'■'■. ■■ 1 ~; S iry:. it'. is,: not. easy for a man .. who' has Riven the -best years . of .' his' lifo- to-.bankinß to: take un 'ordinary business, .and he is. not likely,'.with .the expenses entailed ; by tho requirements of/his position:(!), to "have saved auy capital that'he "can iflvest.' Some few yedrs ago, during .a .period of drought in ; a: neigh-; bouring-colony, the salaries paid by our bank wore: reduced: 10, per cent, all' round. Since ■then:', the-institution has passed through a: period of ;uuexampletj prosperity.. and its /shares : are moid . than• double their face, value,: ' while its shareholders; draw double-figuro ;divi-

:dends. : *.;But '■ that.:lo. -perVceht.-; temporary, re-' duption'has never been paid : back'to the bank- : ;clerk. I ''-Why-:should it be?.; Ho:is'.not-iy'neces-sary; person. ..He,is .growing old. :If! ho.goes, , ten, Cadets 'are waiting for /'his shoes.:-' ■. : ■.. ■■ ' to 'the advancement: of banks like '{this:that .the youth,--tho: energy, the Jen-:' ' .thnslasmi'of H.n^nian'e,.:life - shoiild. be.'.buried with; it/-.. . It'is.' to its- pronounced/ advantapo . .that what Vreraains,.' disappointment and:, flis-;: illusionnfont;"stvoiild .withdraw.'.'. ;Why .it is .not ..certain that; the withdrawin'!;.' on<yo resigning in .'very','Hopelessness, : ; or., perhaps required. w , resign:.because he : .has,' in, defianc.o 'of regulnlati.ons.. coniniitted: tho!-unpardonable r sin ; of. matrimbny-rit is.not .certain that, this,:.welltritd'eervantrhas any".claim.\to- tho: money -ho' ; has ■: to.- the guarantee • fund which ' probably, .'is Iho'tr the:property; of tho. bank'.',: No • , wonder il';-is.,(iprpspeTOus:.institutjon. : :'■■/■'' •..'•_ ";Bnt;"'is'..it' not. titoo;vnow ; for .-clerks .'to.- com-' I'-am, ■■.:;.;/;•;.::■;'-';.. ,; ;\.'.:." •■:^'?:'w:^V-;!:V^>' / %.'V:&v/^: : )?v^ ; .' : :