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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 954, 22 June 1881, Page 2

It appears that our recent remarks on Bank Managers and Bank Agents, were pertinent to an evil which exists in more places than one in the Colony. There can be no doubt that for the private business of a bank’s customers to be talked of in the town by a lot of inexperienced prattling youths, is an evil that must be cured at all hazards. There is quite sufficient espionage and publicity given to banking transactions which are somewhat unavoidable, without the superadded annoyance of making them matter for gossip in the streets, and conversation at hotel bars. We clip

the following from the Auckland Observer : —■“ Some strange stories are current about the way in which private banking matters seem to be divulged. It is alleged pretty openly that if a bill is discounted by certain banks, which shall at present be nameless, its contents, amount and probable bearing on the credit of the drawee are openly discussed in town. The other day a respectable tradesman in the heart of Queen-street presented his account (which amounted to £l5O odd) to a customer, observing, ‘lf you cannot meet all with cash, give me a bill.’ ‘ My name doesn’t touch a bill,’ was the decisive reply ; and during the next few days the same answer was twice given to the same tradesman by his customers. We are making strict enquiries into this very important matter, and if we can verify an instance in which any bank manager or clerk has gossiped about a customer’s affairs we shall ruthlessly expose him, no matter what may be the consequences. Even ‘ the sack ’ is far too fine a garment to clothe a gossiping bank clerk in.”