BANK OFFICERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 257, 25 July 1919, Page 8

BANK OFFICERS

NEW ZEALAND GUILD FORMED

A meeting of bank officers, iimnberins 15(1 to 180, wis held «t. the Y.M.C.A. lost evening. Mr. Alexander Macintosh presided, and Mr. Mou.rant wa> secretary. The business was the establishment of a Bank Officers' Guild.

The chairman remarked that seeing that, he had retired from the banking profession lie was surprised that he should have Iwr.ii asked ;o take the ohair; at the same tini" he was glad to see that one ivn'n had been out of the running for so iniiK had not been overlooked. Tho fact that he had filled every position from the lowest to the highest that the banking profession could offer, they no doirhl. realised, qualified him tohelp them in soni. , way in the matter they had in hand. He saw no objection at all to the formation of such nn institution as they proposed. He had no sympathy, however, with methods involving threats .".nd the \is-p of force. Re claimed the tille of workers for the bank officers in the fullest , sense of the word, and he would not admit the claims to that title to 1*? the exclusive right of those wl» worked with (heir hands. He urged members to bo independent in the management of theiv own affairs, and condemned the so-called direct action methods. They should tnke their superior officers into th.'ir confidence, as would be necessary in matter.? of finance Mr. Mourant expressed the greatest pleasure at seeing so large an assembly of bank officers, one of the largest that had ever been helrl in Wellington. The meeting emphasised tho discontent anion? bank officers. They needed in- ' creases of salaries to meet tha increased cost of living, and also to generally improve their position. He hoped that if I hey were successful in improving their position financially they would not regard that as the end of their effort. If so, then it would 'be the end of the (ruild: They had hirfier. aim , ! than thn.=e of remuneration. The vote taken for tlie formation of the guild was 7fi per cent, in favour and 1 per cent, against. Nn absent soldier vote bad, of emir??, been taken of bank officers on active service. Mr. Mourant outlined the Wbitley scheme. He would not be surprised if the Prime Minister was bringiim. oiif something of the kind. The miild hod no idea of forming any connection with organised disturbances of an industrial character. The guild would be registered, but not u.'.ider the Arbitration Act. There was no dmilit whatever of the trreat need that existed for an organisation such os Hie Riiild. Mr. Mourant instanced the ''hatidfome way" in which the Commercial Bonk'hig Company of Sydney treated its staff, and (he result was that that hank had the.crfam of the profession. Salaries ivere not the mo?t important .consolidation. Th*y had first to consider the c'ipnity and ambition of their profession. lie would like to be able to say that merit should count more than senioritv in the liankimr.profession. Tlie guild, he held, could and should ba the means of educating (he younger menihrr-- of the profession, so that the tone of the profession would be raised and the capacity of the men improved. For want of encouragement thf profession did not. attract the brightest and 'best. The guild should strive to greatly improve the efficiency of its members, aiid their the banks would be compelled to recognise merit and suitably remunerate it. To get increased ealnries the.v must improve themselves and so ju-Hfv higher returns for tb*ir nervier*." "Wo are ou.t to help the banks." he said. "The directors have no lieed to b° alarmed, a= we, by our efficiency, will help them to mike more." He would say to director?: "Instead of writip<r down your assets, write up yonv staffs." He commended to members of (be STiiild the old idea of the trade guild, which mi* designed for the improvement o f thft efficiency as well as the interests of its members.

He moved: "That those persons present (being members of fhe staff= of Ihe vapr.ns ■banking institutions in New Zealand) who am desirous of so doing fovni themselves into the. Xew Zealand flunk Offipers. Guild, -u.oli ?uild, to bs substantially ,of the nature indicated in the circnlny dated June 9. 1019, on'which .was based the recent vote of bank officers tiiroußliout the Dominion." Mr. G. Henderson feared .that tl'O formation of tha guild had been viewed with eome suspicion by those in authority, but I'P was confident' that as soon as the guild was in full working order that suspicion would he allayed. There wns nnthinjr at oil revolutionary in the guild'. It ves based on tlio Whitley Commission. Further, the uiiild received the full recognition of Hie Britisli Government, vliicii had, with him. very fftil weight. Ho dwelt upon th , great disadvantage under which the salaried c!ii=3 in New Zealand klioured fo- wanl of flwnni=otion. Tie believed the gu.ild would berome t>. Inure sueness. (o the mutual .benefit of the batik officers and the banks! ■Jfr. Mnnrant. exp'nined the proof!'; of r"ci c trotion under the Incorporated Societies AcK

The motion wn? rnrripd ' unanimously. A. provisional committee was then set up, each bank to anpoint one member, p.vconting the Bank of Xew Zealand, which will be represented by two.