BANK CLERKS' SALARIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2007, 14 March 1914, Page 3

BANK CLERKS' SALARIES.

.-—_ j_ •■ A brisk correspondence on the salaries and conditio as of Engjish bank clerks was conducted in the London. "Daily Telegraph" throughout the whole of January. Letters were published from all.sorts and conditions of those concerned in bajking, from directors and shareholders to junior clerks, from the customers of banks; and l from parents ' who have, or who have decided not to have, sons working in banks. It was amply recognised fry many; of the correspondents that there'is no ' uniform-i tty-among banks in regard to tlft system of remuneration aud. treatment of clerks. "Somo of these institutions," said the "Telegraph," in reviewing the 1 correspondence, 'aro open to little or none'of the criticism made'upon the treatment of bank, clerks generally. .With this reservation,'it must bq said .that tho grounds of discontent.disclosed in the many.temperate, yet forcible, letters wo have 1 published' will have, tended to reduce the pride with which the public regards'the greatest banking system in .tho-world. .There must bo fetf who havo not , beeu somewhat disconcerted to learn bow very little*-the gigantic prosperity of ihat system in these- days isreflected in tho'life of tho majority of those by whoso work it is carriod on Let us quote ono letter —a model of brevity: 'I haVo had just on .25 years' hervico -with a largo bank; have : charge of; and hold the-keys of, some thousands of pounds in cash, and many thousands of pounds', worth of bearer bonds—surely a responsible position—and my salary .is £200 a year, (no extras).'■ The. sam'eA story is repeated dozens and scores of times. There are, of course, other grounds, of complaint alleged: the arbitrary stoppage of tho yearly increment of sttlary, the lack of discrimination in promoting to higher grades, tho selection for managerships of men whom private means will cnablo to live on an unduly small salary— upon thoso and other points there may be another side to the story. But upon • T the broad fact that' salaries generally remain so low whilo cost oMiviiiß is so greatly increased, thero ought not, we think, to bo two opinions ainonp; reasonable men and men of business."