What’s happened to the traditional ‘box hand’?

Dec 15, 2012 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Once again we read about someone spiriting away other people’s ‘penny bank money’, just when contributors – presumably mainly people who can ill afford to lose it – were looking forward to their money in time for Christmas. Sadly, a trusted churchwoman was involved this time.
Many years ago, the penny bank was run mainly for primary school children, supervised by head teachers – the savings handed back to the children at Christmastime each year.
Money saved privately by adults was usually held by ‘box holders’, normally a neighbour or close friend trusted completely by contributors to what was known as a ‘box’, the modern financial term being ‘a pot’. The number of
savers was usually small, normally up to 12, to correspond with the number of months in the year and each contributor handed over the same amount of money every month and took turns each month in getting back their total yearly contribution (‘box hand’) in one fell swoop, effectively the sum total in advance.
Sometimes box holders would keep ‘a small piece’ for themselves. Trouble arose only if one contributor absconded after collecting his/her share. It was a good way of saving for a special occasion, e.g. a wedding or a special celebration.
As primary school teachers, we had such a box scheme, and our contribution was $5.00 (five dollars) per month – an amount not to be sneezed at in those days. Sixty dollars could buy much then. In January every year, the teachers wishing to continue would put their names down and indicate which month they would like to ‘draw’ their box hand.
I am curious to know whether people still ‘throw box’. And if not, why not.
Geralda Dennison

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