THE NEW BANKER.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1918, Page 8

THE NEW BANKER.

' ~ i WHAT WAR HAS DONE. "WELCOME" ON THE MAT. j SEEING ABOUT AN OVERDRAFT. They relate a story in the country of the cocky and the bank manager, (says the Sydney Sun). It tells of one purple patch in the life of a son of the soil, who. after living in dread of the local bank manager for years, and taking whatever that livery worthy had to hand him struck it rich. A £ 5000 Tattersail's prize came his way, and with it tbe opportunity for a sweet revenge. He kept his secret to himself, har« neesed the old bay mare to the buckboard and headed the outfit for the local metropolis. He reached town, refreshed himself, purchased two of the blackest, long est, and most awful cigars devised by man, and headed for the bank. HEADED FOR THE MANAGER. Then our friend bore off to the door on which the grim brass plate indicated that the manager was beyond. He hit the door with a thump that finally smashed the dignity of the outer office, and stalked in with a curt "Momin', Binks." liiuks was surprised, shocked, and indignant, and everything else. "Pardon me, Mr. Hayseed." he said, "but I am busy. 'Please sec the accountant. Close the door when you go out." And then Hayseed perpetrated his historic jest. He sat on the edge of the manager's desk, spat on the carpet, blew smoke over the desk, and said: "JJ>w, oid cock, how much cash will you take for my overdraft, and if you don't smoke this cigar I'll buy the bank and make jou eat the ledgers." TIMES HAVE CHANGED. Tho time was not so long ago in Sydney when the business man regarded an interview with hia bank manager wit! much the sitae enthusiasm as the small boy regards a visit to the dentist. Leaving hia suburban home with a fteed determination to "put the case 'jlearly, you know, old chap," and ask 1 tbe manager to give him an overdraft of i £2OOO, our business man had reduced i .the prospective loan by £SOO by the ' time he reached the city. 1 After a long wait in the ante-room < of the Most High in Finance, he lisi i lopped another £509 off, and when he 'l

filially stood watiing for the door 1 opr'ii on the dread interview, he was not sure even about the £IOOO. With the opening of the door came the beginning of the end. He glimpsed a grim figure sitting in awful silence behind a big desk at the far end of a long, long room. The figure was surmounted by a head, in which were eyes that glared and a jaw like a gin ease, and as sympathetic as a meat-axe. THE FALLING OVERDRAFT. And with these encouraging surroundings Mr. Suburbia started on liis progress up the long room. Ere he was well through the threshold his demand had oozed to £750, when he was midway up the room his knees were knocking together, and his ambition had fallen to £SOO. When the manager barkc "Well!" at him it slumped to £230 and by the time he opened his mouth all lie could say was: "Good morning, sir; I just called in to pay my respect He left the room finally feeling fortunate that the grim personage at the end of the table had not sent him out owing money to the bank. But all this has changed now, and the v.ar has done it. If you go to a bank to-day, instead of tbe name of the institution on the rubber door mat there is the one word "Welcome." Within the grim portals of other days the n>nnager sits and beams on you as you enter. With hand outstretched he comes half-way down the room to meet you. He smiles the war loan smile, and 'you in turn feel that it'is a shame to -aai, for the money. It is so easy.