LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 August 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

—.—_, Price of Whey Butter. An increase in the retail price of whey butter from Is 3d to Is 5d a lb is authorised by a price order issued last night. The new price will apply at all points where a freight paid delivery is available. At other places the freight charges may be added. Returned Services Membership. The Wellington Returned Services’ Association now has a membership of 3460, of which 283 have returned from service with the 2nd N.Z.E.F. The Wellington Returned Services’ Association has the second largest membership of all the Returned Services’ Associations throughout the Dominion, Christchurch being the largest with 3488 members. There are now 1449 members of the various Returned Services’ Associations in New Zealand who have served overseas with the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Christmas Parcels. Parcels for the Middle East 1 and Great Britain, which the senders desire to be delivered in time for Christmas, should be posted not later than the end of September. Under existing conditions, the Post Office states that it can give no guarantee that parcels will be delivered on any particular date, and it is necessary, therefore, particularly in view of the shipping position, that parcels intended for delivery before Christmas should be posted in ample time. The Post Office strongly recommends that parcels should be packed in a strong and compact manner, and says it is desirable that they be sewn up in canvas, sacking, or other suitable material. Wool Retention Money. The Wellington Wool Brokers’ Association has been advised by the Marketing Department that its intention is to pay for new season’s wool less a deduction of 10 per cent, instead of the usual 5 per cent retention money. No official information has been received by the wool brokers as to why this additional deduction has been made. The 10 per cent deduction applies to the Wellington crutchings appraisal, of 4252 bales, which was finished on. August 12, and prompt date for which was yesterday. In order that the necessary adjustments may be made to account sales, prompt date has now been extended to Thursday, September 3. The crutchings submitted at this appraisal were valued on the new schedule, which has added the 15 per cent increase recently granted by the United Kingdom. Age Benefit Scope Enlarged. A further enlargement of the scope of the age benefit section of the Social Security Act is contained in emergency regulations issued in last nights Gazette. The new regulations provide that when the period of employment during which an age beneficiary has not received the benefit ceases, the earnings of the beneficiary may be exempted under the income section of the Act when application is made for the renewal of the benefit. The Minister of Social Security, Mr Parry, said that the new provision largely benefited the seasonal worker. While benefiting age beneficiaries generally, the regulations removed particularly somewhat of a handicap from the seasonal worker from the standpoint of earnings when, on the cessation of his period, of employment, he applied for the reinstatement of the age benefit. The regulations would also facilitate under tiie policy of the Government the reabsorption of physically fit age beneficiaries into industry.