PAY PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 40, 17 February 1939, Page 8

PAY PROBLEM

ACHILLES AT HOME

NEW ZEALAND CURRENCY

(By Air Mail, from "The Post's" London Representative.)

LONDON, January 26

Unexpected negotiations arose when some of the crew of the cruiser Achilles, which arrived at Portsmouth from New Zealand, tried to change the New Zealand money with which they had been paid, into English money. Since the New Zealand Government prohibited the export of currency, the Bank of New Zealand" in London will not accept New Zealand notes unless they were exported prior to December 6, and do not represent an export of currency.

When applications were made to the local branch of a ban)- to change the crew's money, there was said to be the same doubt as to whether the notes would be cleared by the Bank of New Zealand in the ordinary way. The local branch communicated with its head office and the assistance of the High Commissioner for New • Zealand. Mr. W. J. Jordan, was sought.

Mr. Jordan communicated with Mr. D. F. Reid, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, who gave an assurance that the crew's money would be changed into sterling. ■ .

A report "from Portsmouth stated that tradesmen who had changed notes to oblige the crew were wondering whether they would find themselves in difficulties when presenting the money to their banks.

The crew was paid fortnightly in New Zealand money until the Achilles reached Portsmouth.