CANADIAN BANKER’S VIEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1927, Page 1

CANADIAN BANKER’S VIEWS.

A PLEASANT PERSONAL CONTACT.

A recent visitor to Auckland, Air P. Harrison, manger in San Francisco of the Bank of Alontreal, has some nice tilings to say of New Zealanders from tlie business aspect. Writing to the president of the Chamber.of Commerce, tie says : “ We came oil what was to us, before we landed here, a mission somewhat vague. We had the intention of visiting our banking correspondents, and to visit personally as many as we could of the commercial friends of our own clients, and to study the different angles of the transactions which we, as hankers, finance. Our third intention was to study and note as far as possible, general conditions covering the present trade rei’ations (particularly the selling end) between the Dominion of Canada and the Dominion of New Zealand, and the prospect of further extending them. “ We had no difficulty with our hanking friends, for we had nothing to thrash out. Tho merit for this is in no sense due to them nor to us, but to the standing financially and in the commercial integrity of your community. As concerns the credit of New Zealand and Australia, it may be of interest to you to know that on the outbreak of the war in August, 1914, our bank held outstanding £1,500,000 in commercial lulls drawn on these countries, and of that sum every pound except £3OO was paid. I feel sure that in iliis instance you will not mind my bracketing the name of Australia with that of New Zealand. “It is the result of our interview with your business men, however, that lias made a profound impression on us. Wo have found a ready welcome and a frankness (given in confidence) that bodes well 1 for the future relationship between our respective Dominions. Frankness, as you know, is regarded by the bankers as the cardinal virtue. •‘ The business men oil whom we called have stated their cases without mincing matters. Some have lauded the Canadian exporter and Lis products, and some have criticised severely. In the cases where permission has been given us, we propose to communicate the praise and blame to our customers concerned. We have found some of your merchants desirous of handling linos of Canadian goods, and we shall put them in touch with reliable exporters. A\ e leel that in each case we have made a pleasant personal contact.”