DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 1 May 1942, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS

MAIL SERVICE TO PRISONERS BY JAPANESE. WELLINGTON, April 29. Mr. Webb announced at Wellington, to-day, that information received from Britain indicated that proposals had been made to the Japanese Government for the establishment of a mail service to prisoners of war and interned civilians in Japanese hands. Without the agreement of the Japanese Government, letters could not be forwarded to Japan or Japanese-Occupied territory. It is understood, however, that everything possible is being done to obtain the agreement of the Japanese, and as soon as a mail service was established, a'n announcement would be made. In the meantime, the Minister added that there was no advantage to be gained by writing to prisoners in Japanese hands. Even the International Red Cross was not in a position to send on correspondence. SAVINGS BANK. AUCKLAND, April 27. i ,A!n increase in the funds for the I year of £987,500, a record in tne bank’s history of nearly 100 years, was announced by the president (Mr Edwlard Anderson) as the annual meeting of the Auckland Savings i Bank trustees. This brings, the funds to £11,675,000, which, adds the report, “is an indisputable answer to the oft-repeated claim that thrift in our community is a forgotten virture. National savings deposits were much h’gher than last year, and still better results are -expected. Mr Anderson said that the putting aside of savings and capital would assist in warding off the menace of inflation and provide individual spending power in future, when national rehabilitation would be a primary objective. P.A. DUNEDIN, April 29.

It has been ascertained the Carlton Hotel fire, on April 5, caused approximately £87,000 damage. Some 26 firms were affected, and insurances ranging from £5O to £21,085 totalled £93,660. The Carlton Hotel damage was £40,000.