DUNEDIN SAVINGS BANK.

Evening Star, Issue 23370, 13 September 1939, Page 8

DUNEDIN SAVINGS BANK.

The Dunedin Savings Bank, which celebrated its seventy-fifth birthday yesterday, is one of those solid institutions founded in the old colonial days and built up throughout tho succeeding decades in a manner reflecting the sane outlook of our people towards life and tho integrity and progressive spirit of. our businessmen. The bank itself is a striking monument to the value of thrift. Founded sixteen years after tho John Wickliffe and the Philip Laiug had landed their sturdy passengers from the Home Country—people who were destined to play a prominent part in developing tho province of Otago—it supplied the ideal means of giving financial service and guidance on a community basis, encouraging the observation of sound principles among people of small means and, in many cases, laying for its clients .the foundation of outstanding individual prosperity. Investors generally have always regarded it as a symbol of security. There are no shareholders in the ordinary sense. The profits are not placed to the credit of individuals. The bank’s worthy method of doing business, commendable in every way, is to foster the thrift which makes for financial independence and creates a contented nation, and then, after provision has been made for adequate reserves, to distribute what, surpluses are available to local institutions that need and deserve help. As an instance of what has been done along these lines it should be noted that tho benefactions since 1879 total £62,951. It goes without saying that private savings banks operating in accordance with this policy aro a boon to the country at large. A continuous record of sound management and impeccable trusteeship has piloted this institution safely through the early vicissitudes' and embarked it on career of expansion embodying a solid prosperity from which there can be no lapse. It is justifiably claimed that the bank has played its part in helpinn- the Dominion to progress and has taught that “thrift is the cornerstone of all success, because there can be no accomplishment in life without character, will, and efficiency.” On the occasion of its seventy-fifth anniversary tho Dunedin Savings Bank merits the special congratulations of the entire community.

Amongst the evacuated from London are the young New Zealand violinist, Alan Loveday, and his mother. A cable just to hand advises that they had vacated their flat in London and gone to live at Middleton-on-Sea, Sussex, at the residence of Alan’s tutor, Mr Albert Samraon. The cable indicated that Alan is very fit, and is having daily lessons—a further indication of the tutor’s enthusiasm for his protege and an unexpected advantage accruing to the boy from war conditions which presumably have caused the temporary closing of the (Royal College of Music, to which Mr Sammon is attached. The Travel Club to-day was entertained by Mrs Elisabeth Manners, of London,’whoso talk concerned mainly the old-world beauty of the towns and villages of her own county of Kent. Mr W. R. Brngh presided, and the hostesses were Mrs C. G. Wilson and Miss V. Reynolds. Mrs Manners described in detail some of the historic homes of England, and quaint towns, such as Rye and Winchelsea, where silks were once smuggled up the cliffs, and Hythe. of which the brick-tile roofs in all the hues of autumn were set off by the fig trees which were grown everywhere in the town. Although whitebait has been making its appearance intermittently on tbo local market during the last two or three weeks, supplies, which have come from the south, have been very short, this being due to the unsettled weather. Whitebait has been fairly highly priced, selling at Is 3d a glass, and the fact that southern rivers aro still in flood will not tend to ease the position. Fish is also very scarce on account of the prevailing conditions, and the season so far has beeiF an unsatisfactory one. Blue cod, groper, and sole have been making their appearance, but groper especially lias been fetching a fairly high price.

“ We meet in very different circumstances from those of last year,” said Dr J. Fulton, giving his review of Dio annual report at the Otago Lawn Tenuis Association last night. He had hoard players say that they would not tako much interest in tennis this year, that there were important things afoot. This was definitely so, but that did not mean that the lesser things might be discarded. Keeping up an interest in tennis, and supporting recreation generally as much ns possible might have an important effect on the morale of the home front. Much has' been said of late of the increasing cost of living in these days. Some idea of the increasing cost of what might be termed luxuries was gained last night at the annual meeting of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association. when Mr 11. Phillipps gave a resume of the work done on the two new courts at Logan Park. Much of the preparatory work had been done, but there was a likelihood that they would cost more to finish than the association had figured. Whereas a year ago the cost would have been in the vicinity of £l2O, to-day contractors were not keen to take on the work. They had plenty of road jobs, and men were becoming "harder to procure. The final cost would probably be about £l6O.

Mr Justice Northcroft has granted probate in the following estates: — Albert Edward King, labourer, Dunedin ; Samuel Wilson Currie, retired Presbyterian minister, Dunedin ; Charles William M‘Lay, labourer, Warrington; George Moir, retired salesman, Dunedin; Margaret Pilling, widow, Kaitangata; Jessie Wright, widow, Mahono; and George Ernest Werner, retired master mariner, Rarotonga. Letters of administration were granted in the estates of Mary Jane Foulkes, married, Dunedin; Helen Louisa Justice, married. Dunedin; and Jane M'Ewan, widow, Balclutha. “ Once again wo have the opportunity of showing what the savings banks can do to assist the Government in time of war,” said Mr W. A. Ott, president of the Associated Savings Banks of New Zealand, at the seventy-fifth anniversary social of the Dunedin Bank last night. “It is only by the assistance of individual depositors that this can be brought about. The savings banks and other financial institutions do not want anyone to come to them at this juncture to supply more than normal requirements. I hope that all depositors will bear this in mind, and thereby help the Government to face the existing crisis,” It was anticipated when the House of Representatives resumed yesterday after a week’s interval, that highlyimportant legislation dealing with the war situation would be introduced or a statement made regarding the Government’s policy in the crisis. Four Government Bills were introduced, but, except for the Emergency Regulations Bill, providing every possible authority to mako regulations Covering all contingencies, the measures were unimportant. Opposition members were surprised when tho Acting . Prime Minister, in a general statement regarding the business, failed to indicate the outstandingly important hues of policy regarding financing the war, and also the extent of the country s military obligations. The Opposition s feeling of disappointment was voiced by Mr Hamilton. This was the prelude to many hours’ discussion on two local Bills which were strongly contested, one relating to tho Wanganui Harbour being talked out. The business, however, ended on a spirited note, the Minister of Defence being able to announce that the call for 0,600 omcers and men for the special force to serve within or beyond New Zealand resulted in 6,655 enrolments on the first day. However, tho call goes on, for allowance must he made tor medical rejections. It was announced before the House rose that an arrangement is being made regarding the Transport Bill, which will enable it, in modified form, to be acceptable to tho Opposition. The House to-day nill consider the Public Works estimates, or, as an alternative, the Emergency Regulations Bill.

A motor car belonging to Dr B. Monlieimer was stolen from Upper Stuart street, where _it had been parked on Saturday night.. The owner had the keys in his possession, so that the car must have been coasted d°v'nhill to an alleyway near the Public Trust office, where it was found next dav. The car radio set and two boxes of' medical instruments which were in the car, however, were missing, ana have not yet been recovered.

In the Police Court this morning Sarah Elizabeth Smith (40) was charged on remand with drunkenness. Senior-sergeant Claascn reported that the defendant was still in hospital, and the charge was adjourned sme die. To-morrow nighty at 7 o’clock, 4\ A and other stations of the National Broadcasting Service will relay an address to the people of New Zealand to bo given by His Excellency the Go-vernor-General, from 21 A • Head teachers and school committees of schools controlled by the Otago Education Board arc to be reminded ot its bv-law relating to saluting the Hag, this decision being reached at the meeting yesterday of the board.' The by-law reads as follows;—“At every celebration and at the beginning or end of each school week the New Zealand flag or Union Jack is to be. saluted, and the National Anthem sung by teachers and pupils in the presence, where possible, of the whole school. The opinion was expressed that this weekly ceremony is carried out in most schools, but it was considered that at the present time it should bo carried out in all schools. It was pointed out that inability to boist the flag because of the absence of a flagpole was not an adequate reason for not adhering to the by-law, as the ceremony could be carried out effectively when the flag was hold up by two children.

An announcement that it had been decided to establish a mayor’s patriotic fund, and that tho City Council had contributed a first instalment of £SOO. was made by the Mayor of Wellington, Mr Hislop, addressing a largo meeting of women, called by the mayoress to discuss war work, and held in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall on Monday afternoon (says the ‘ Dominion ’). Mr Hislop said that he had not yet appealed to the public, but had no doubt that the fund would be strongly supported by individual citizens.

Greatness, whether inherited, achieved, or enforced, carries with it the penalty of a life in the limelight, and many people are under the impression that this is a modern development induced by the newspapers, the radio, and perhaps Hollywood. However, it seems that publicity for the great is an institution of some antiquity. Mrs Elisabeth Manners, at tho Travel Club this morning, describing a medieval banqueting hall, mentioned that at one end it was provided with peep-holes, complete with shutters, so that the knaves could gaze at tho gentlemen at their dinner. Another institution which has now vanished was the door for unwanted guests. This was low and narrow, and on its further side was a drop of about 12ft to the flagged court va ill.

A justifiable false alarm from Sim street, Maori Hill, was answered by the City Eire Brigade at 7.34 last night.

Reminders of the Great War are at present to bo seen in the windows of Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. Tho collection is a diversified one, but very interesting, and comprises photographs, stamps, stickers, and other curios. The photographs depict various war efforts in which New Zealand had a particular part, and one shows tho New Zealand Record Office staff. An album is devoted to a collection of various stickers, particulars of which are given in » translation from tho French. Special commemorative stickers issued by Germany include such “ causes of jubilation ” as the sinking of the Lusitania and the shooting of Nurse Edith Gavel!, while the former incident is further indicated by the presence of tho special medal struck by the Germans to commemorate the event. (It will bo remembered that a photographic reproduction of this medal was published in the ‘ Star ’ a few nights ago.) Postage stamps as used during the War, including some printed on the backs of maps, are interesting, and contrast curiously with some of the very latest issued by Germany, and which are on show. Among these late issues is one carrying a picture of Hitler making a speech. Aerial warfare of another day is recalled by the scraps of metal which formed part of a Zeppelin brought down over Essex during 1916.

No shortage of essential sporting goods for the incoming summer season is now anticipated, the various local retailers of such goods having, in thenown ways, surmounted most of the problems confronting them. Cheaper tennis rackets will be hard to procure, which may have the effect of retarding the interest of juveniles in this particular sport, for in most cases they will be unwilling to pay higher prices for equipment just to learn a pastime. Tennis balls are in fair supply, a number of recognised Englsih makes having been obtained. Cheap cricket balls <’ll also be short, but otherwise it is considered locally that all requirements for this coming season at least mill be met.

Provision for the incorporation of the Municipal Association of New Zealand is contained in tho Municipal Association Bill, which was introduced by Governor-General’s Message in tho House yesterday. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Parry), who is in charge of the Bill, explained that tho Act of 1932 gave no power to the association to make its own rules. It was found easier to bring in a new Bill than to amend the old Bill. The Bill was read a first time.—Press Association.

“ Probably no discovery has so completely revolutionised the world in so short "a time as the internal combustion engine, and tho provision of an adequate supply of fuel for our cars and aeroplanes is probably a sufficient justification for turning our attention to the fuel problem,” said Dr H. G. Denham, professor of chemistry at Canterbury University College, in an address to the Geographical Association of Canterbury last night (says the ‘Press “ Varying estimates have been given as to the life of the oil wells at present in sight, and these estimates rarely exceed 20 years, for one must remember that the rate of increase of fuel oil consumption has in recent years been stupendous, and is likely to be even greater. Additional supplies, whether natural or synthetic, are therefore of paramount importance to the civilisation of to-day. Refined petrol consists of about 85 per cent, carbon and 15 per cent, hydrogen. Coal is largely built of the same two constituents, but in the proportion of 95 to five. The development of the modern hydrogenation nrocess for obtaining petrol- from coal involves so acting upon the coal with hydrogen as to increase this hydrogen ratio to that pertaining in petrol.” The monthly meeting of the Northeast Valley School Committee was held on Monday night, when Mr J. J. Paul presided. Tho head master reported that the roll number on reopening after the term holidays was 468, with 99 at Opoho. The winter sports competitions were now' almost completed. The girls’ basketball teams had played particularly well. One Soccer boy. Leu Hill, was chosen for the Otago team which played at Christchurch. S. Winter had been appointed captain of the Otago Schools Rugby team to play against Southland next Saturday. J. Judge was also in the team and A. Kitchen was an emergency. The annual report of the inspectors was considered to he very satisfactory. The Education Board advised that the building of the new room at Opoho had Tieen deferred owing to tho wet weather. The committee hopes that this addition will not be much longer delayed, as it is urgently needed. Messrs Jensen and Zimmerman were appointed a Visiting Committee.

The district Committee of Physical Welfare and Kecreation met representatives of the various sporting bodies last night at Port Chalmers. A tentative programme of activities was adopted covering three fixtures--seven-a-side football, cricket, and , full indoor programme to include table tennis, basketball, badminton, and juvenile games.

The Port Chalmers Council has appointed the mayoress (Mrs T. Scollay) to organise Bed Cross and ambulance training at Port Chalmers. On dav evening a public meeting will be held in the Town Hall, where addresses by representatives of the respective orders will be followed by the enrolment for training of women for the Bed Cross and men for the St. John Ambulance.

Another successful function resulted from the efforts of tho leaders Mr R. (“Whang”) M'Kenzie and Dr Noel North at the South Dunedin Community Sing to-day. The vocalist vas Mr Denis Shcard, whose three songs were particularly well received. The takings amounted to 10gs. All the “ whangs ” that have been overdue for the past two or three weeks have now been brought up to date, and next week the leaders will be able to start off anew.

The urgency of special building work at the Taieri airport lias prompted the executive of the Dunedin Builders’ Association to appeal in an advertisement published in tnis issue to all builders to release as many carpenters as possible for this work. A large number of carpenters are required, and the executive considers this a matter in which it is justified in asking for the fullest cooperation of all employers.

Attention is drawn to an advertisement in this issue inviting applications from thoso desiring to serve in the Royal Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force as pilots, air gunners, and observers.