PICKETS HELP TORONTO BANK FIND ERROR
Partisans of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee helped the Toronto Dominion Bank to correct an error. The assist was provided by a picket line in front of the bank's downtown office April 21.
The bank had refused to honor checks submitted by the Fair Play for Cuba Committee if they originated in the United States.
- Mrs. Myra Dickson, secretarytreasurer of the organization told the press April 13 that she had been informed by bank officials that due to pressure from affiliates of the bank in the United States, they were no longer able to accept checks drawn on American banks. The Roncevilles branch of the Dominion Bank where the Fair Play for Cuba Committee has an account even sent formal notice to Mrs. Dickson that instructions had been received from the Head Office not. to take such checks. [See World Outlook April 28, p. 453.]
About a dozen placard-carrying pickets appeared in front of the still unfinished main tower of the new Toronto- Dominion Centre.
Plainclothes police and bank security guards were mobilized in force. Nervous bank officials evidently feared that the pickets might expropriate the sacred institution forthwith.
Very shortly a bank official issued a statement declaring that it was all a mistake which had now been corrected.
Norman White, assistant general manager, public relations and advertising, said: "We do not follow instructions of the U.S. government in respect of our Canadian banking operations."
He stressed that the bank accepts deposits for remittance to Cuba.
As a test, some of the pickets went to the bank's Wellington and Church street's branch where they had previously had trouble. They said they wanted to open a new account and they presented a $25 check drawn on a New York firn.
"This time the manager was quite friendly and smiling," said one of the demonstrators.
The Toronto press, which gave considerable publicity to the picket line, did not describe what kind of smile was on the bank manager's face.
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