THE ADVANTAGES OF THE SAVINGS BANK THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 14, 5 July 1849, Page 4

THE ADVANTAGES OF THE SAVINGS BANK THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.

(Continued from our last.) Some deposit their money in a chest, but the chest stands exposed in the native whare. What security is there that it will be safe from theft? A thief hears that such an one has money in his chest, and at once his lingers itch to be at it. He watches for the absence of the owner, and when he is from h'otfte hastens to break open the chest and take the cash for himself. Who can tell the hour in which the thief will come ? What is a wooden box in his way? How soon his tomahawk breaks it open, and the contents are taken! . But in this bank the money will be secure day and night. How can the thief reach it ? It ia not buried in the earth, nor standing in a. native hut constantly exposed to the numbers who go in and out at pleasure, this is one advantage of tho Savings' Bank, money •will be secure from thieves. A fear lest their cash should be stolen is one reason why so many of you make haste to spend it all. You are afraid to take it to the Kainga Maori, saying to yourselves, ptr# haps the money lor which my strengtli has gone will be stolen, or the payment for the food I have sold will be lost. I will go at once and buy something wiih it, then my heart will continue glad, and I shall have no trouble. . No sooner thought than done. All jj gpent on trifles, nothing left, and all from fear of having the cash pilfered. This bank furnUhe* a safe depository, and relieves your fears.

3. Another advantage of this bank is, that one source of temptation is removed. It is money that enables us to secure everything else we wish. Men will sell everything they have for money; and if a man has a quantity of loose cash by him, he goon falls into temptation. He sees many things, and desire; to possess them; he sees that he has money doing nothing, and when the desire arises, ha is drawn away by it till his heart consents, and he says I have cash to spare, I will have rum, and anything else I fancy. He begins to drink, and taste is acquired, and he is on an inclined plane that will lead to ruin. It was his cash unemployed that led him astray. Mow let a person deposit hU spare cash in the Savings' Bank, and this source of temptation is removed; though ho may look on forbidden objects, he has no money to spend ; he goes no further, and the temptation passes away. My advice to you therefore is, don't leave your spare money unemployed ; since it may prove a source of temptation, and lead you to the public house, (ho House of ill fame, or the theatre, or such like places. Be watchful against such things. Take your money to the Savings' Bank. 4. Another advantage of this Bank is, your money will increase. As I told you in the beginning of this book, the trustees will invest it, and get interest for it. They have no profit themselves in the investment—they don't wish to be remunerated for anything they do in managing the affairs of the Bank. It is all good will on their part toward the poor and improvident, who know not how to take care of their earnings. They desire to see you save your earnings, and have the means of increasing the fruit of your labours. When tlie trustees have invested the money deposited, and receive interest for the same, the greater portion of the interest will bo placed to the credit of the depositors. Don't misunderstand this; don't s»y, perhaps we shall have nothing but tho Interest, the Principal will be detained. No, all will bo returned to you, both principal and interest. The_ amount of interest will be regulated by the time the deposit has been in the bank. Read the seventh regulation of the bank, and you w.ll see the scale on which interest will be given. And now, do you think there is any profit ] by leaviog your money idle ? Jesus Chii>t , did not approve of the servant who buried his talents in the earth; but he did approve of the i servants who improved their talents, the one ' bringing back ten and the other four to his Lord. Though this parable has especial reference to spiritual tilings, yet it frequently furnishes a moral on temporal things also—and ia applicable to our money. I am not saying that your money deposited in this bauk will increase after the same rate as did the five talents referred to. The interest will not be great; but though small, it is better than leaving it idle, (or that brings nothing. Perhaps you are uttering one of your otvn proverbs, and sayinjr, " Ah! great the outlay, small the return'' What then i All you deposit comes back, and interest beside, and I retort with another of your proverbs, " What though tmull, it is small in the presence of Taiawa," The interest may be considered smallj but the principal is saved. Will any of you say it is better to have 15 laying doing nothing ? What is the good ot this ? I.eave your seed potatoes above ground, don't plant them, and shall you hare any crop ? If you would have food you must plant; and if you would increase your money, you must invest it. 5. Another advantage of the Savings' Bank is, it will help you to improve your circumstances, itjwill aid your civilization. "This is what the Pakeha greatly desires, to see you raised to a state of respectability and comfort. Don't you believe the falsehood that has been propagated by some, who have said that the Governor and his .friends have come to take your lands, and make slaves of you. No, no such think. Such thoughts was never entertained by us. On the contrary, it is the ardent wish of tho Governor, and of all Uie right-minded Europeans, that you should rise in the scale of civilization, and become respectable men. And now, perhaps, you are ready to enquire, "'By what means can we be improved ?" By such as these—read attentively. 'l'o be continued ia our next.