6 AUGUST 1948, Page 17

Sia,—As a bank employee I feel compelled to comment on

Mr. Frank Ward's allegation, in The Spectator of July 23rd, that the banks are imped- ing the nation's economic recovery. Many banks are short of staff. After a day of concentrated hard work, the younger employees troop off to evening classes, where they study for their professional examinations. Even so they do not leave the banks by 4.30 p.m. Bill Department staff in the commercial banks are accustomed to long hours of work on Friday evenings dealing with the rush of bills deposited by firms, many of whom are finishing their five-day weeks.

Mr. Ward says he "will eat his pass-book." Possibly some customers do this already, since so many apply for duplicate pass-book sheets to