Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1947-10-01

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ganization for the Promotion of
Thrift. 1t is partly a propaganda
institution with highly idealistic
aims, partly a commercial under
taking-a somewhat strange COM
bination, VIII h, however, has
proved effective. 1t takes the form
of a corporation, in which all the
shares are held by the central and
local savings banks associations.
The national and partly also the
local advertising of the savings
banks is handled by the Associa-
ton for the Promotion of Thrift.
1t also has a special press serv-
ice, which supplies the newspapers
with news items as we'll as fea-
ture articles. 1t produces propa-
ganda films and posters, pamph-
let's on saving, etc, and it has
special officers for maintaining
contact with various cultural and
educational organizations, such as
the temperance m ov m en- the
Boy Scouts, the Y.M.C.A., etc. It
also organizes lectures on eco
nomic topics and arranges courses,
discussions and meetings.
The ether part of the associa-
tons activities is of a CONNER
cial nature. 1t serves, so to speak,
as a supply depot from which the
savings banks can fill all their re-
quirements, from pencils and
bookkeeping machines to complete
office premises. Thanks to organ
lied central buying for the ma
jority of the savings banks, the
agency can offer very favorable
prices, and it's architects often
render valuable assistance in the
building or reconditioning of Of
fices for the savings banks.
Individually or through their
special promotion department, the
above mentioned Association for
the Promotion of Thrift, the saw
ings banks reach an increasing
number Of people.
The children's thrift movement
savings banks. From the local
savings banks every newborn
child receives, as christening
present, a savings bank book, in
which a gift deposit of one to
three kronor is entered. With the
book Genes an elaborate deed of
gift in which the child is wished
happiness and prosperity. By this
form of promotion very good re-
suits have been achieved at COM
paratively small cost.
The school thrift movement can
be said to have started in Stock
holm as early at 1921, but on a
very small scale. 1t was not until
1925, when it was taken up by the
Association for the Promotion of
Thrift, that the movement began
to make real Roadway. Today 40
out of Sweden's 460 savings banks
take part in it. The Swedish Saw
ings Bank Association has APP
pointed a special adviser, who
travels from place to place to as
sist in the organization of the
movement and maintain contact
between the savings banks and the
schools.
The most important medium in
the promotion of the school thrift
movement is periodical, THE
Lucky Coin" NyckoslantenD,
which, with its circulation of over
100000 copies, probably is the
largest children's paper in Europe.
In addition a number of devices
for the promotion of thrift are be-
ing produced, such as the picture
album Nobody is afraid of ABC',
school pamphlets of different
types, such as Our commonest
butterflies" "Time-t table wi h
multiplication table" and so on.
For the production of films the
Swedish Savings Banks Associa-
ton makes an annual grant of
1875. 900 kronor tS35,000). Two
thirds of the amount is used on
short subjects. which are shown
in about $50 motion picture the