BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1919, Page 5

BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

SALARIES OF STAFF. A PLEA FOR GENEROUS TREATMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At the Conclusion of the chairman's address at the annual meeting of the Bank of New Zealand to-day Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C-, said he had come to tlie meeting to ask the directors and shareholders to consider whether the attitude of the board towards the staff was the correct and proper one in the interests of the shareholders and in the interests of the bank. What were facts 1 Besides paying a full dividend, the sum of nearly £300,000 remained over. What provision was there for the recognition of the services of the staff? Tlie bare figures showed that some consideration was due to the staff, and it was in the interests of the shareholders that that consideration should be given. The chairman, replying to these remarks, said there was no matter that gave the directors more concern than the revision of the staff. In regard to the bank clerks' agitation, he did not think it emanated from the staff of the bank. He could assure the shareholders that the salaries paid by the Bank of New Zealand were as high, if not higher, than those paid to men engaged in mercantile and other similar employment, and the officers of some other banks did not receive the same generous treatment. Mr. T. Shailer Weston suggested that, as the cost of living had increased by at leaßt 27% per cent- and the bonuses paid only amounted to 20 per cent., tlie difference ought to be made up in celebrating the signing of peace.