SAVINGS BANKS IN SCHOOLS.

Evening Star, Issue 4117, 8 May 1876, Page 4

SAVINGS BANKS IN SCHOOLS.

A correspondent has sent us a copy ©f the Fortieth Annual Report of the Glasgow National Savings Bank ; and in the face of an agitation amongst us for the establishment of school banks,; home remarks in the report are very much to the purpose. The number of depositors is 95,49,6, and the amount deposited to their credit is L 2,56,5,160, a sum of money scarcely exceeded by the paid-up capital of the largest bank in Great Britain. There were not fewer than an addition of 3,000 depositors during the year, and this, said Mr Botten, of Carbrook, was of more importance than the amount deposited, and gave the managers great encouragement to persevere in their labors. Sir James Watson mentioned that leaflets inviting all to oome forward and share the benefits of the—bank had been sent to all the shops and works' throughout the city, and had done a deal of good. The hank is managed by a committee who give their services gratuitously, and who evidently take a keen interest in spreading a knowledge of its usefulness amongst the industrial classes. It is also stated that there are now 153 Penny Banks in operation with 50,000 depositors in and around Glasgow, and were proving most useful auxiliaries, the amount of good they were doing being very great. The year had been one of dull trade, but notwithstanding all these banks had made most substantial progress, showing

an increase of provident habits. The report winds up~with a statement which we especially commend to oar readers:—“ The committee have long pressed on public attention the duty of saving, and very large numbers have joined the bank and laid by for future use j but they regret that still larger numbers altogether -neglect that duty, and indulge in thoughtless expenditure. The committee find it very difficult to enlist as depositors those who have been allowed to grow up improvident, and they therefore continue to urge on school boards the propriety of adopting every means whereby the young may be educated and trained in the public sdhbols to habits of economy and fore-thought-—a course which is followed with much advantage in other countries.”

We have alluded to the society now being promoted throughout the Colony for establishing Savings Banks in connection with our schools, and in reference to this we clip the following from the ' * Wellington Argus ’ of the 28th ult:—“ His Excellency the Marquis of Norraanby and Lady Normanby have become patrons, and have given a donation of five guineas, and Dr Cowie, Bishop of Auckland, is one of the Vice-1 residents. The Otago Teachers’ Association has, after discussion, expressed approval of the scheme, and a prospectus of the society is being drawn up for publication. The matter has also been laid before the Government, with a view to enlisting the assistance and co-operation of the Post Office Savings Bank machinery. No definite'feply has yet .been, received, but it is understood that the scheme is favorably regarded. The object of the proposed society seems to us to be one deserving of support and encourage •meitt by,the Government, the public, and tihe school teachers throughout the Colony. The whole of the latter have been or will be communicated with, and we shall watch with some interest the development of the system so well and earnestly advocated by Mr Dairy mple and his coadjutors.”