BANK CLERKS & WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2793, 10 June 1916, Page 3

BANK CLERKS & WAR

150 WOMEN WORKERS

BONUS TO BANK OF N.Z. STAFF

Mention of the part in the war which is being played by the Bank of New Zealand and its start' was made at tho annual meeting of tho bank yesterday by Mr. Harold Beauchamp, tho chairman of tho directorate. Mr. Beauchamp said:— "Sinco tho outbreak of the war the bank lias granted leave to 2-17 of Us officers for.tho purpose of joining tho military forces._ Of tins number 18 have given up their livea on active service, and 28 others havo been wounded in action. ■ So far, lti havo received their discharges from tho Expeditionary Forces, and 12 of those havo returned to bank duty, tho remaining four being still unfit to take up civil employment meantime. In addition, we have lost the services of 36 of our officer.-; who resigned their appointments in order to join the Army. "As mentioned last year, the bank is allowing half-pay to colonial officers on leave serving with tho military forces, and full, pay to members of the London, stall", the military pay of the latter being on a lower scale than that of tho colonials. I record with pleasure that it is reported two of our officers have been mentioned in dispatches—oue (Corporal T. A. Timpany) being awarded the D.C.M. Vou will, I am sure, join with mo in extending heartfelt sympathy to the relatives of our gallant officers who have willingly given their lives in' defence of King and oountry. "Tho staft' has had to work long hours and forego all holiday leave in. order to carry on the business, which has not shown any appreciable diminution in volume—in fact, at some branches it has been necessary to increaso the stall to oope with tho growth of tho business— but this extra work has been cheerfully undertaken. We have pleasure in recording our appreciation of the zeal and energy displayed by our staff in New Zealand, London, Australia, Fiji,. and Samoa, and in particular have to thank them for the extra, duties they have so willingly performed, which has enabled so many of their fellow officers to be released to join the colours. I mentioned at our June meeting last year that it had been decided to engage a limited number of lady clerks. Wo .will shortly havo 150 of them at work in our colonial branches, and owing to the ever-increasing. shortage of trained bank clerks, it has been necessary to place women in positions which were formerly considered to bo the exclusive domain of men. If, as seems more than ?:kely, tho depletion of tho male stalf for military purposes continue, we will havo to take oil many more. . "We are now releasing as many men each month as possible, and I am glad to suy there is no lack of readiness on the part of tho bank's officers to offer their services to their, country. The problem of keeping ths stalf up to a sufficient standard of efficiency, while releasing as many men as possible for the front, is oue that causes a. very considerable amount of thought to tho officials responsible; but we hope that, as the women clerks become bettor acquainted with.their duties, we shall be able to set free, more men each month than we are at present ablo to do.

"Tho results of tho year's work have been sufficiently good to justify tho:board in. again paying the staff a bonus of five per cent, on salaries. In this bomis the members of the staff serving with tho Army shared as on the basis of full pay."