GRATUITIES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24901, 14 June 1946, Page 5

GRATUITIES

Replying to a letter recently printed over the nom de. plume, “Tempus Fugit,” who complained of delay in the payment of servicemen’s gratuities, the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) says:— “As the correspondent surmises, shortage of staff is one of the contributing factors. Two hundred thoussnd odd applications for war service gratuities take some time to finalise, and obviously they all cannot be dealt with in the one day or week. Staff is not the only factor, however; one of the other reasons contributing to delay is the inability of many applicants to set out particulars of their service, and the other information npcessary, in correct manner. I would suggest that you ask your correspondent to forward to me immediately hie name, regimental number, address, and the date he forwarded his application. I will be pleased to do whatever I can do to expedite payment to him. that is, if his claim warrants the granting of some priority over and above other applications that are not yet finalised.” Sir,—When I filled in my gratuity forms I did so with complete confidence in the powers that be. Now, after a long wait, my confidence is beginning to shake, while my patience is wearing thin. I know of many service personnel, both men and women, with small gratuities, who were paid promptly; yet I know of very few long service personnel who have been remunerated so far. Is shortage of staff, sheer inefficiency, or lack of funds to blame for this deplorable hold-up? Instead of hiding it behind a veil of annoying secrecy,, the position could be clarified if officialdom would condescend to make a statement; and possibly a misunderstanding avoided, which, in view of the approaching elections, might have serious repercussions.—Yours, etc.. FIRST ECHELON. June 10. 1946.

.22 SHOT CARTRIDGES sir I would like to condemn the cersistent refusal of the authorities to allow the importation of .22 shot cartridges loaded with sparrow-hail. This, wifliin a dozen yards or more, is mostly effective enough in an orchard or garden, while in rat-mfested sheas there is no risk of damaging iron or wood. The alternative ia to use a fowl-ing-piece, noisier, but to tre«, etc, doing ho harm, or else a .22 bullet, the most dangerous of missiles. Light and powerful, it appeals to .rresponsibles shooting on partly populated areas and riverbeds. If tragedies occur, the Government can honestly claim proportionate credit.—Yours, etc.

May 20, 1946. [The Acting-Minister of Customs (the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer) says: “You may not be eware that during the war years supplies of cartridges of this type and of some other types used for special purposes were not available from overseas, but it recently became known that manufacture had ag’in been undertaken and that supplies would be available for export. Athough the Import Licensing Schedule indicates that no allocation has been provided for imports of shotgun cartridges, sympathetic considerjUon would be given to applications from regular importers for licences to import .22 calibre shot cartridges, and a licence has already been granted to one large importer for an amount which should enable reasonable supplies to be imported”!