In the 1950s and 1960s New Zealand's home ownership rates were steadily growing. Aspiring to own your own home was a natural part of family life and this slide shows this perfectly- the young family are dreaming of a large house with a decent lawn. A house that size was a big ambition back then and even harder for most families to afford now! 

Unlike a bank, building societies are owned by their members but offer many of the same financial services. The Societies are able to offer 'ballots' where members who bought shares in a special fund were eligible to receive prizes generated from the fund's interest. Few people won prizes but those who did won more than an equal share from the interest would provide. This was like the former 'Bonus Bonds' scheme which concluded in 2020. For many Society Members the biggest financial goal was to raise enough money for a house deposit. 

This Society was based in Auckland but it appears that Maurice Mead was the local Levin agent who represented them. MAVtech cannot find any information about Mister Mead. Interestingly, despite the invitation to call him there is no phone number on the slide! Was this a mistake, or was the slide one of a pair? If it is the latter that would make it very rare! 

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen – Oxford St. P.Office, Commercial Bank, Bowman’s Bookshop, Tip Top Milk Bar & Tearooms, Worsfolds Jewellers, Hanlon Dentist upstairs.

Oxford Street, east side, 1970 1 B&W photo print

Left – right : Post Office / CBA (Commercial Bank of Australia) / Bowman’s (bookshop) / Levin Milk Bar & Tearooms (Tip Top sign) / Worsfolds Jewellers / M.L. Hanlon, Dental Surgeon (upstairs).

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

HJP 0371 Large heavy truck passing through Oxford & Queen Street Intersection 1-3-2019

Printed bottom of photo: “Bank of N.Z. Shannon. No.3599.”

Written on back with black ballpoint pen: “B.P. Moynihan”

Letter penciled on back: “Dear Dick, we have got a new cow. her name is Brownie she gives a lot of milk with love from Edith.”

Buildings on the eastern side of Plimmer Terrace, Shannon, including the Bank of New Zealand and W H Gunning’s General Store c.1920. In this photograph children can be seen on the path outside the bank and Gunning’s store

1 B&W photo postcard (Fragile, damaged)

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscription on reverse reads: “The first CBA bank at the Racing Club Room, Main Street.”

This building, owned by the Foxton Racing Club, was used by the Commercial Bank from 1928 until 1961. In 1961 Bryants Butchery was pulled down and the present bank (Westpac) was built.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Bank of New Zealand, Main Street, Foxton. This building was destroyed by fire in 1905.

Photograph and paper copy.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Minutes of Special Meeting of Council held in the Council Chamber on Monday the 28th May 1906 to consider the questions of appointment – Bankers etc.

PRESENT: His Worship the Mayor (Mr B. Gardener) and Crs. Hall, Hankins, Hudson, Levy, MacKenzie, Palmer, J. Prouse and Ryder

BANK

The question as to which bank the Council should deal with was first considered. Cr. Hankins moved and Cr. Ryder seconded “that this Council open their banking accounts with the Bank of Australasia – Levin. This was carried by seven votes to two. Councillors MacKenzie and Palmer voting against the motion.

APPOINTMENTS

The Council then went into Committee to consider the applications for the positions of Poundkeeper and Night-soil man.

On resuming it was moved by Cr. Hankins and seconded by Cr. Palmer “that the report and recommendation of the Committee be confirmed that Mr Musgrove be appointed Poundkeeper and Mr G.W. Astridge be the employee of the Council for the removal of night-soil.” This motion was carried.

TOWN CLERK

Moved by Cr. MacKenzie seconded by Cr. Levy “That the Council calls for applications for the position of Town Clerk, such position to include Treasurer and Collector, Returning Officer, Inspector of Nuisances and Health and Inspector of Public Buildings or other positions he may be appointed to at a salary of 2 pounds per week”. Carried.

MEETING POSTPONED

Moved by Cr. Hall, seconded by Cr. MacKenzie “that the next ordinary meeting of the Council be postponed from the 4th June to Friday the 8th June and that applications for the position of Town Clerk close on the latter date at 4 o’clock pm”. Carried

BOROUGH SOLICITOR

Proposed by Cr. MacKenzie seconded by Cr. Hudson “that Mr Prendergast be appointed Borough Solicitor”. Carried.

This concluded the business.

Confirmed

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: “Outside BNZ. Manager – Staff – Jeanette Campbell nee Scott Lynne Pigott nee Hampson Diane Burke nee Cameron Fiona nee Harper”

Bank of New Zealand Staff outside the front doors of the bank, Plimmer Terrace, Shannon. Those in the photograph are from left to right:- The Manager (name unknown), Mrs Jeanette Campbell (nee Scott), Mrs Lynne Pigott (nee Hampson), Mrs Diane Burke (nee Cameron), Mrs Fiona .?. (nee Harper).

1 B&W photo print (plus copy)

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”