NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 136, 11 June 1942, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Price of Spirits. An increase in the price of spirits sold over the bar to lOd a nip has been authorised by the Price Tribunal as from today. This is in conformity with the recent increase from 6d to 7d for a handle of beer to meet the increased tax on beer and spirits. Church Union. A majority of sessions was in favour of the basis of union of the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches of New Zealand, stated the convener of the life and work committee of the Wellington Presbytery, the Rev. G. W. Hunt, at the meeting of the Presbytery this week. He submitted an interim report on the proposals submitted by the General Assembly. Fares for Those in Uniform. In future all members of his Majesty's Forces and of the Forces of the Allied Nations will be granted the same rate of concession on city trams, instead of the former twopenny fares for some members only. The new fares are:—One section, the usual concession card punch or a twopenny cash fare; two or more sections, two punches from the shilling concession card, or one punch from the ordinary 2s concession card, or threepence cash. In reply to Mrs. Gilmer, the Mayor said that the fares would apply to women in uniform as well as to men; in fact, to all serving with the Forces. Farm Training Centre. The action of Mr. George Alley, a Bay of Plenty farmer, in giving farm properties totalling 2300 acres for the establishment of a training centre for returned servicemen who wished to take up farming was warmly applauded at this week's meeting of the Dominion executive committee of the N.Z.R.S.A. The president, the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C.. stated that the property had a capital value of approximately £40,000, and that the fine gift on the part of Mr. Alley was one that would assist materially in the rehabilitation of returned servicemen and one that he hoped would be emulated by other public-spirited men in the coming year. Mufti Allowance. A reply has been received by the N.Z.R.S.A. to representations made to the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) j regarding the diffex-ence in the mufti allowance made to' home service men (£7 10s) and men who serve overseas (£l2 10s). It is stated by the Minister that "in fixing these amounts the Government reviewed all aspects of the question, and it can be taken that the allowance approved in each cate- | gory represents their well-considered opinion." The association is pressing for a reason for the distinction between the different services, and the Dominion executive committee of the R.S.A. states that it is unable to extract from this reply why the difference is considered to-be necessary. It has decided to make further representations in the matter and to submit reasons why the two grants should be equal, and, further, to request that the mufti grant toi home service men should be made retrospective in the case of men who have served continuously for twelve months or over prior to April 1, 1942. Pay and Allowances. It has been decided by the N.Z.R.S.A. executive to make further representations to the Government on the question of pay and allowances of all branches of the Services, including the women's service organisations with the formation of which, it was pointed out at a meeting of the executive, further anomalies were creeping in. The association has always contended that the allowance of lOd a meal for members of the Forces living outside camps, barracks, or stations is quite inadequate and should be increased to 4s 6d a day. The N.Z.R.S.A., it is menltioned in a report of the meeting, has repeatedly requested the Government to appoint a Royal Commission to review the pay and allowances of all branches of the Services.