WHAT THE BANKS ARE DOING.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2476, 1 June 1915, Page 6

WHAT THE BANKS ARE DOING.

LEAVE AND PAY. (To the Editor.) Sir, —The statement published yesterday in your paper under the above heading, as coming from the Inspector of the. Bank of Australasia, may bo accepted as officially setting forth the attitude of the various banks to those of their omployeos who have volunteered for active service, and may be accepted as correct if it is not contradicted. I would point out that the Bank of New Zealand some months ago by circular withdrew all leave and required that all employees desiring to go to the front should resign. His contract with the. bank requires that a member of the staff shall give three months' notice. If he desires to leave at ones he must break his contract, unless the bank ■agrees to waive its right xo three months' notice. Mr. Smith says: "All banks are making their mon some allowance still. In some cases it is half pay-, and in some cases it is more." This is not correct. I know that, the Bank of New. Zealand has given absolutely no pecuniary consideration—neither full pay, half pay, nor a single day's pay to ail employee who has volunteered for active service. I am pleased to kiio»v that the Bank of Australasia, is doing the right tiling, but I don't think the Bank of Now Zealand can claim to be "playing the game." I am, etc., [We are informed that it is not true that tho Bank of New Zealand issued a circular saying that employees desiring to go to the front must resign, or anything that would bear that constiuction. The bank lias a large number of 111011 away at the Iront, and 1 it is letting others away as it can replace thorn by training juniors, of whom it took on 311 extra 'large number at the commencement of the war, and by taking on such other clerks as it has been able to get. As each member applies for leave his application is recorded, and he is let away in liis turn. Some men wanted to get away out of- their turn, which would have been manifestly unfair to those who ■ were waiting, ana would not have helped the Deleiice Department, as each member going out ot turn would block someone else. _ ihoso who would not wait have lesigned not at the bank's wish, but at their own. Tho bank is giving to all its men who have had leave to go, halt pay; has undertaken to keep their places open for thorn 011 tliou* return, and is granting t'heir annual. _ merements. The men on leave witn the Forces also participated in the recent bonus granted to the stuff, and this was allowed the.n on their lull pay. As stated at the bank's half-yearly meeting in December last, ordinary holiday lo%ve has had to be suspended Ui order that more men might be let away to the front, and the staff has cheerfully recognised the jnsliee ol this.J COMPULSORY SERVICE. ]i'OR THOSE WHO CO AND THOSE WHO STAY. Sir, —As a goodly number consider the.v have a mission tn address the publi--: per medium cif the Press, I oiler n.i further tliun a ivisli. that I ,",ni mil :illi-mpti nu tn trespass unduly 'in your siim-i'. As a K" " n n'i'T el military thought and dniius, fur many years past. I have lons bmn a. convert to the priucisla of comiiulwy

military training of the young manhood of our nation, with compulsory service iu tirno of war, for all those over 21 years of age. The voluntary system has had much to recommend it during times past. It has from a fighting point of view always produced the best in a nation. The fighter from choice has always proved incomparably superior to the soldier of compulsion. It is often said that tho British Empire is always at war. Be iliat as it may, tho present war is tho first, for nearly 100 years, in which our nationhood has been seriously endangered. How many of us, after all. realise (that if by reason of some unthought of catastrophe, tho German Navy gained possession of the seas) inside 12 months the British Empire would cease to be. Time has worked many wonders in warfare. During tho Napoleonic wars, and for long before, an army of a 100,000 men was considered large. Why? Simply because the armies of 1 hose days, more or loss fed upon the countries they conquered, or travelled through; while the munitions question was a. trifle as compared to the present day. 111 thoso days it was possible for Britain's Fleets to retire in face of adversity into her harbours, there to rebuild or refit, leaving the seas perhaps for months to her enemies, and pirates. But is that possible now? We all know that it is not. We are, therefore, face to face with many'great necessities. Firstly, an invincible navy, which it is to be hoped we have; secondly, a powerful army of soldiers, to prevent Germany establishing herself in great naval ports, at England's front door; thirdly, a great army of workers to keep the army of soldiers supplied with munitions of war, clothing, and tho thousand requirements of an army on active service. Fourthly, a still greater army of producers, and tillers of the soil, to keep the already mentioned two armies fed, as well as the great general public, at as low "h cost as possible. Can ail these necessities bo maintained at a high standard of efficiency under an entirely voluntary system. ■ I fear not. The Navy under the voluntary system is, I suppose, least open to critioism. But as far as the other three great necessities are concerned (being more or less interdependent of each other), the same can hardly bo said, judging from what one sees and reads. What has the voluntary system dono for Britain during tho present war? I should, imagine that it has drawn into the military oamps close upon threo millions of the very best of her workers and tillers of the soil, leaving behind tlio medically unfit (which cannot be helped), but worse still, leaving behind tile "shirker" and the coward. By reason of tho voluntary system Britain and her Dominions have sent abroad tlio finest fighting army _ the world has ever seen. But has it improved tho army of munitions, and other workers. to have to work side by side with the military shirker, or coward? Show me the shirker of his responsibilities, in any walk of life, and you will show me the agitator. Here in New Zealand it is not probably so bad; but if tho war continues, as it may do for two er three years, the same conditions will arise. Many young men in this country at present hold back because they have not recognised the responsibility attached to themselves. The production of ever-increasing quantities of munitions of war and produce of the soil to send to the Allies is, in my humble opinion, of as great importanco as the sending away of gallant armies of soldiers. who may find themselves without cartridges for their rifles; or food for their, stomachs, during the hour of their greatest peril.

If there be 100,000 single men of a military age in New Zealand, they should bo enumerated, and balloted in as required; thou all the necessities of the present days great armies would have equal chances. For rest assured that the hold-backer is 110 moro wedcome amongst the army of producers than he is amongst the army of soldiers. If it. is dangerous to send the shirker away, it is still more dangerous to keep him, for the reason that he will go on increasing tho same stock. However,' I do not believe that all the so-called shirkers are cowards; they simply lack the initiative, or sense of responsibility of taking the first stop. Nelson's press gangs could fight like heroes when once afloat; and so it would be with thousands of our young men. _ Can the voluntary system do anything with tho young men we see in scores at the present day; more interested in finding out the winner of tho racing cup, or dividend paid, than in their country's -peril? Can the voluntary system do -anything with the individual who stores up his wealth, perhaps made as a result .of the war? Can the Voluntary system do anything with the M.P. who rushes up and Ttar/n the country, stirring up party strife, when there are so many important tilings to be done? The British Empire at the present time has little space for tho young man who will not fight, or will not find . something useful to do. Much- is said against the worker who strikes during war times for higher wages. Well, he is not as bad as the shipping magnate, or trust boss, who doubles his income by reason of tho necessities of others. They are all of a sort, and after a fair thing is allowed to all. should come within the grip of compulsory measures.—l am, etc., ALEX. M'LEOD. Mangapari, May 31, 1915. (