It was intended to place more Branches on to machine posting in January 1933, but owing to the imposition of a tariff and the rate of exchange, it was found that machines which had hitherto cost £470 or thereabouts would then cost £588. The Committee, therefore, deferred placing an order until the price was nearer the normal figure. 

The machines can now be obtained at £497. 10. 0. each and if ordered at once 5% discount will be allowed under the Quantity Discount Contract applicable to the Corporation. 

I therefore recommend that three machines be purchased and installed at Saltley, Acocks Green and Hall Green. 

The figures for the three Branches concerned are as follows: 

The Saltley position has been a steady one for some years; the Acocks Green figures in the last three years have increased by 16,000 in transactions and 2,000 in open accounts. The Hall Green figures in the last three years have increased by 22,000 in transactions and 2,000 in accounts and business is likely to continue to increase for some years. 

The position at Sparkhill and Springfield is such that I had seriously thought of dealing with these Branches in the same way, but after further analysing the position, I have come to the conclusion that the question of turning these Branches into machine Branches may be deferred for the time being.

J P Hilton.

April 8th 1935.

The Chairman and General Manager attended a conference in London on Friday last of the Emergency Committee of the Trustee Savings Banks Association, urgently called in reference to the War Savings Campaign. 

The main discussion centred round the question of publicity and propaganda, which should be undertaken by each Trustee Savings Bank, and particular efforts made in connection with the National Savings Campaign Week which has been fixed for the 9th to the 15th June. 

Amongst other matters on which unanimous decisions were reached, was that publicity experts should be secured for the various areas of the Trustee Savings Banks Association, eg, North-Western, North-Eastern, Southern, etc, the feeling being that the publicity expert, or experts, engaged for the purpose of a particular centre like London would not be as effective as each area having its own expert, who would be acquainted with conditions and circumstances of the particular area. 

In 1932 the General Manager expressed his opinion that the Bank ought to have its own publicity and development officer, in order to secure the best results, and strongly urged this course being taken. The Committee, however, decided to proceed with part-time services by the payment of a retaining fee to Mr R B Clamp, and later making payments to Mr Clamp or anyone else who might put forward publicity proposals acceptable to the Bank. 

In April 1939, the General Manager reiterated his views, and said he had no reason to depart from his original report. The matter has, however, been in abeyance since April 1939, but with the urgent necessity for greater effort to secure money for the prosecution of the war, it has become more important. 

Efforts were made at one period to obtain the whole-time services of Mr Clamp, but owing to the decision being reached as recorded above, Mr Clamp accepted an important appointment as Publicity and Development Officer with the Ideal Benefit Society. He has recently relinquished such post. 

The terms of Mr Clamp's appointment with the Ideal Benefit Society prevented him from rendering any part-time help to the Bank in regard to preparation of posters, drafting literature, etc, and we have had to seek help from any other source which was available. In this connection The Grosvenor Advertising Ltd have prepared posters and leaflets for the Bank. I understand that the Managing Director of the Grosvenor Advertising Ltd (Mr C W Timings) might consider giving whole-time service to the Bank, as the business is not proving so lucrative; and I also think it likely that the services of Mr Clamp might be secured if there is no long delay in coming to a decision. 

It has now become quite impossible for the Bank staff to deal with publicity matters, owing to the continual drain on the male staff for war purposes; and in view of the launching of the coupon system of saving, and the heavy work attaching thereto from an organisational point of view, it is essential that help should be provided quickly. 

The General Manager therefore asks the Committee to give a direction in this matter, and would suggest that the Chairman, with Councillor Martineau and Alderman Morland, should be empowered to secure a Publicity and Development Officer for the duration of the war on such terms as they consider reasonable.

J P Hilton.

In November 1942 your General Manager was informed by Messrs Margetts & Ritchie that a gentleman named Percy Whitton of 36, Oldfield Road, Coventry, had died and had left a Will of which he had appointed "The Birmingham Municipal Bank, Six Ways, Aston, Birmingham," to be executors and trustees. 

Messrs Margetts & Ritchie were of course duly informed that the Municipal Bank derived their authority from statues and from regulations approved by HM Treasury and have no power to undertake executor and trustee duties. Furthermore, the Bank is not a Trust Corporation within the meaning of section 161 and 175 of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1925. 

I now understand that it will be necessary for some person appointed by your Committee to renounce probate and I submit herewith a draft form of renunciation which appears appropriate for the purpose. It would seem most appropriate that your General Manager should be appointed for the purpose of performing this formal duty and your Committee may therefore wish to pass a resolution in the following terms: 

"John Peter Hilton, General Manager of the Birmingham Municipal Bank, be hereby appointed syndic for and on behalf of the said Bank for the purpose of renouncing probate on behalf the said Bank of the Will of Percy Whitton deceased dated the 28th June 1942, and be hereby further authorised to act under the advice of the Town Clerk in taking any other steps which may be necessary for the purpose of and to give effect to the said renunciation."

F H C Wiltshire,

Town Clerk.