Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1941. FUNDS FOR SOLDIERS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 October 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1941. FUNDS FOR SOLDIERS.

AN official request that relatives and friends of membeis of the New Zealand armed forces overseas who desire to remit money to them for the coming Christinas season should forward bank receipts not later than November 24 is accompanied by an intimation that no good purpose will be served by applying loi permission to send additional funds where the maximum amount of £3O for a given year has already gone forward. The hard and fast limitation thus imposed may well be regarded as open to criticism. A private soldier is permitted to draw field pay to an amount of three shillings a day. dh the addition of the maximum remittance of £3O a yeai, the soldier is allowed to have a disposable income of about £BO a year. Limitations are thus imposed on those who are serving their country in the field from which civilians are immune. A fair number of soldiers may be content "with their allotment of purchasing power. Some, probably the rather rare exceptions, have been known to save a certain amount out of their field pay. Others, however, certainly would like to draw more liberally on their own resources, or to be allowed to receive funds their relatives or friends are prepared to remit in excess of the permitted scale. Taking account of ruling conditions of civil life in the Dominion, it is definitely a question whether it is equitable that the existing restrictions on remittances to soldiers should be maintained. There appears to have been a tendency in political and official quarters to evade an open and frank consideration of this question. A statement surely should be made of the reasons for restricting remittances to the amount now permitted. If it is contended that the raising of the limit would appreciably embarrass' the national finances, or hinder the war elfort, specific evidence to that effect should be presented. Even if it can be shown that rather more liberal remittance limits are from a national standpoint impracticable or undesirable, a little latitude surely might be allowed with regard to the coming Christmas season. It would mean a, good deal to soldiers, and to their relatives and friends, if the latter were permitted to forward a small sum to a soldier even if he had already received the full amount of the permitted remittance for the year. THE WAIRARAPA P. AND A. SHOW. JN spite of restrictions and economies imposed by the war the annual shows conducted by the two organisations operating in the Wairarapa have been kept going very well. No doubt the standards of successful enterprise thus set in face of rather serious difficulties will be maintained fully at the annual fixture of the Wairarapa P. and A. Society at Carterton on Wednesday and Thursday next. Some leading details of the scheduled programme and ’other items of information are given in our news columns today. As usual the Carterton fixture is being well supported by district farmers and breeders and by others from further afield. The Show has its established appeal and interest for members of the district community generally and no doubt will attract a full volume of public support.