WORLD THRIFT DAY

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1931, Page 7

WORLD THRIFT DAY

Jn reference to a recent leading article in our columns, it is interesting to note that the 61st October, being the seventh recurrence of World Thrift Day, is celebrated by the great majority of Savings Hanks of all countries showing a new tangible affirmation of the spirit and forces of thrift all over the globe. If we just think that last year a total of more than five thousand Savings Banks of twenty-one nations commemorated World Thtrift Day, we shall easily realise how widespread and important has become the celerations of the 31st Ostober in the international life of the peoples with whom, amongst the many dates recording discussions and struggles; this is one of the few which unite us in one clear thought forming in the path of the nations a recurring halting place from which to look back upon the ascent made and prepare for new conquests.

In the present period of economic depression it is the task of one and all and especially of those who handle other peoples’ money to prudently administer properly so that money may be spent in every field in such a way a s to draw from it the maximum of present and future benefits. The Savings Banks of the world formed themselves into an association called i!i- International Thrift Institute ami In id tlioir first congress in Philadelphia in 1926. On that occasion Or Tiechelmnnn represented the Hokitika Savings Bank. A song of thrift is published every year in different- languages, and a journal is published monthly entitled World Thrift.

The general educational objects of the Savings Bank before inducing the citizen s to effect deposits, aim at impressing on them those conceptions of providence, and creating those habits of thrift in the atmosphere of which the true saver can be developed.

There i s only one way in which a community or an individual can accumulate capital and that is by consuming less than is produced. To d< this certain conditions must be present, chief among which are security of property and opportunities of using savings remuneratively. The opinion is expressed that the task of Savings Banks should be the development of an interest in savings among the young. An excellent opportunity is afforded to the children of Hokitika in the facilities offered by the Hokitika Savings Bank which lias been established in our midst for Go years. At present quite a large number of children o! school age are depositors and the management would be pleased to se< more chi’dren hanking their savings however small they may be. The manifestation of World Thrift Day which every year is acquiring greater impertance and spreading ever further afield and the organisation of School Savings, are two vital examples which have succeeded in attracting the attenion of the public of all countries. The latter we can say 1 is amongst the many activtities of Savings Banks to which the greatest and most delicate-care is Ir.ing given, not for the immediate results obtained, but for the effectiveness of the Seed of Thrift sown in young minds, which paves the way for the worthy citizen and future saver, assuring in the moral order, the continuity of those conceptions of order, thriftness, family love and provision for the future, which form the basis of civil life, just as in the economic order saving assures the continuity and stability of physical life and the perpetual renewlvnewing of the flow of production.