LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ruhamah Gospel Hall. The Ruhamah Gospel Hall in Queen Street will be open every Saturday night from 7 to 9 o’clock for all service men. Provision is made for writing, reading and games. Supper will be served. On Sunday afternoon a special service will be held from 3 o’clock to 4 o’clock and on Sunday evening a bright Gospel message will be given at 7 o’clock. On Monday three meetings will be held, from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.; from 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. All are invited to attend these meetings. Rabbitskin Sale.

The Dunedin Stock Agents and Woolbrokers’ Association reports that approximately 60 tons of rabbitskins were offered at the sale yesterday. The sale was inclined to be a little erratic, but there was a good demand for all grades of winters and values for these, as compared with the few offered in the previous auction, were very firm. The demand for autumn and incoming grades was not so strong, more particularly for spotted sorts, which were 3d to 15d per lb lower. Low grades were generally firm. Overseas Funds.

The satisfactory production results during the past year, together with the United Kingdom’s ability to provide shipping for our exports, resulted in a record banking figure of overseas assets totalling £46,600,000 during the year, said the Minister of Finance, Mi 1 Nash, in his Budget speech last night. This receded somewhat by the end of the financial year due to repayments to the United Kingdom Government of part of our overseas indebtedness arising out of the war, but, nevertheless, at the end of March last the Dominion’s net overseas funds totalled £37,100,000 as compared with £30,900,000 at the close of the previous year.

Rehabilitation and Pensions. Every measure necessary to ensure the complete rehabilitation of ex-ser-vice men and women will be fostered and carried out by the Government, the objective being, as far as possible, to place those who have been in the armed forces in at least as good a position as they would have been had they continued in normal employment, said the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, in his Budget speech in the House of Representatives last night. “May I emphasise one change in connection with claims for war pensions,” he said. “It is related to attributability. No single word during the past decade or more has caused more heartburnings and been so much misunderstood. It is proposed now to change the whole procedure in connection with proving claims. After the Act has been amended the responsibility of proof will be with the Pensions Department, which, in effect, will have to prove that the disability from which the returned service men is suffering is not attributable to the war.”

Young Farmers ’Club. Thirty-two members attended a meeting of the Masterton Young Farmers’ Club on Wednesday. Arrangements were made for a dance. An address on hill country farming was given by Mr L. T. Daniell.

Chimes Temporarily Suspended. The Mqs.terton Borough Council is still endeavouring to obtain loud speakers of a suitable type to allow' the electric clock chimes to be put into operation again. The chimes had to be discontinued some weeks ago, as the amplifier then in use was of a type unsuitable for operation in wet weather.

Friday Night Closing. During the winter months, two Masterton business houses, Messrs Hugo and Shearer, Ltd., and Mr C. D. Shoosmith, have decided to close their shops at 6 o’clock on Friday nights, starting tonight. The measure, it is stated, will help to save electricity, and to conserve stocks of goods. Wolf Cub Packs. A parade of all the North Wairarapa District Wolf Cub Packs will be held in the Masterton Park tomorrow, at 2.30 p.m., for the purpose of being inspected by Scout Commissioner Higginson. If the weather is unsuitable, the parade will take place in the Scout Den in Dixon Street.

Northern Maori Seat, Nominations for the Northern Maori by-election, made necessary by the death of the Hon. P. K. Paikea, closed at noon on Wednesday. Only two nominations were received—those of Mr Tapihana Paikea, of Otamatea, son of the late Minister, and Mr Samuel W. Maioha, of Russell. The by-election will be held on Saturday, June 19.

Social Security Fund. The following summary, showing the position of the Social Security Fund, was given by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, in his Budget speech in the House of Representatives last night:— Expenditure.—Monetary benefits: Age, £8,100,000; widows, £965,000; orphans, £22,000; family, £920,000; invalids, £1,030,000; miners, £80,000; unemployment, £60,000; sickness, £420,000; universal superannuation, £820,000; emergency, £130,000; Maori War, £80; total, £12,547,080. Hospital, etc., benefits: Hospital, £2,067,000; medical, £1,030,000; maternity, £539,000; pharmaceutical, £536,000; supplementary, £160,000; total, £4,332,000. Administrative expenses: £524,000. Total: £17,403,080. Revenue. —Social Security charge, £11,600,000; registration fee and miscellaneous, £575,000; transfer from Consolidated Fund, £4.100,000. Total, £16,275,000.