Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

1901 TO 1914 245the bank opened recreation rooms in its building at the cornerof Bloor and Yonge Streets for the use of its staff in Toronto.The rooms are comfortably furnished and provided with apiano, billiard tables, and other facilities for games. Thereisalso a reading and writing room supplied with periodicals,including the principal illustrated weeklies.During the year an effort was made by the banks to getrid of the mutilated and worn silver coinage which was soprevalent in Canada. The Canadian Government agreed toredeem worn but unmutilated silver coins at their face value,and to accept mutilated pieces at a discount of twenty-fiveIt was hoped that this step would retire the largeper cent.amount of worn coin in circulation, but the plan was defeatedby the rigid interpretation placed on it by some of the AssistantReceivers-General, who insisted on classifying as mutilated,and hence as subject to discount, any silver coin with theslightest scratch. Those obliged to handle silver coins inlarge quantities naturally objected to this, and the amountof worn coinage retired was negligible. Something was done,however, towards reducing the large amount of Americansilver coinage afloat in Canada by means of the arrangementwith the Government entered into some years previously.1At the close of 1909, the principal officer authorized toperform that part of the work of branch inspection which hasto do with the correct carrying on of the daily routine of theoffice, rather than with the examination of the liabilities ofborrowing customers to the bank, ceased to be designated asroutine inspector and became known as auditor; the officersholding a similar position in the departmentssuperintendents were designated audit officers.of the variousDuring the year preceding the annual meeting of 1910,the Board had again lost by death two of its members, Mr.H. D. Warren, whose service in that capacity had been brief,and Mr. Matthew Leggat, who had been a member of theBoard since 1887. Mr. Frederic Nicholls also resigned in1See page 226.