EARLIER PAYMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 138, 8 December 1945, Page 6

EARLIER PAYMENT

Pensions And Benefits To enable war pensioners and social security beneficiaries to complete their Christmas shopping in ample time before the holidays, payment of pensions and benefits will commence earlier this month. The Minister of Social Security (Mr. Parry) said that age benefits would be collected on or after Tuesday, December 18, and it would assist the Department in dealing with the Christmas rush if beneficiaries would uplift instalments on that day or the following- day. All other social security benefits, war pensions, and war veterans allowances would be available from the paying offices as from Thursday, December 20. Payment of unemployment and sickness benefits for the weeks ending December .22 and 29, and January 5, would be made in one amount in the week ending December 22.

jment of political, economic, and cultural relations between France and New Zealand will be the object of my most diligent and, I can say further, my most cordial endeavours. I shall take an interest, too, as an observer, in the reforms by which New Zealand Governments, pioneers of social progres, have, during the last halfcentury, carried the condition of workers to an exceptionally favourable and enviable level. I approach my task with confidence, sure of finding in the traditional sympathy between the French and New Zealand democracies propitious ground for the execution of my mission." His Excellency extended the newMinister a cordial welcome, and [assured him of a ready and sympai tlietic response to any efforts he might Imake lo strengthen the happy developjment of political, economic, and cul--1 tural relations between the two counj tries "We in New Zealand are sincerely conscious of tho sacrifices which the cause of human freedom has called upon your country to make, and our knowledge of the glorious history oi French achievement assures us that, m the period of reconstruction upon which the war-torn world has now entered, tho people of the French Republic will play a leading part in the restoration of the blessings of peace to all nations and all peoples, he added. "It is the fervent wish of the New Zealand people that our friendships forged on common battlefields in two great wars may be cemented still more closely m the years to come."