CHRISTMAS MONEY

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 249, 22 October 1942, Page 2

CHRISTMAS MONEY

FOR SOLDIERS OVERSEAS. EXTRA £7 10s MAY BE SENT.

P.A.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 22.

An announcement that the Government has decided to allow an additional £7 10s New Zealand currency to be remitted to men serving overseas for Christmas was made by the Prime Minister when replying to an urgent question asked by Mr Sullivan (Opposition, Bay of Plenty). A public statement giving fuller details is now being prepared. Mr Sullivan had asked that alterations be made in the transmission of funds to men serving in the armed forces overseas so that these men could receive annually the £30 free of exchange, or that the amount that could be forwarded in New Zealand currency be increased to £37 10s. The Prime Minister said it was not possible to avoid the exchange charge on remittances overseas, and the only alternative to such charge being met by the remitter of the funds would be for the State to bear the expense. The effect of this would be to subsidise such remittances at the public cost, and such a procedure would be inequitablo in that those who received the largest amount of remittances would receive the largest subsidy. PROCEDURE EXPLAINED. Referiing to-day to the Government's decision to allow a Christmas remittance of £7/10/- to be sent to men overseas, in addition to the £30 a vear allowed, the Secretary to the Treasury, Mr B. C. Ashwin, said that the money could be sent through the normal remitting channelsi, but bank lodgem-ent sQipsi must be marked "Christmas remittance." Such remittances must be lodged by November 24. V