SOLDIERS' MONEY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24421, 5 October 1940, Page 18

SOLDIERS' MONEY

REMITTANCE OVERSEAS RESTRICTIONS CRITICISED A resolution requesting the Government to remove the restrictions on the amount of remittances to members of the fighting forces serving overseas and the channels through which they are sent, and thus treat, alike all New Zealanders who are abroad, was carried at a meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee., Moving the resolution, the chairman of the Executive and Finance Subcommittee, Mr J. A. C. AUum, stated that at present all remittances to members of the fighting forces serving overseas must be made through the defence base pay office. These remittances were limited to the equivalent of £2O New Zealand currency a year for each member of the forces. There appeared to be no justification for discrimination between those New Zealanders who were abroad on business and those who were serving in the fighting forces. Mr Allum added that members of the forces in Egypt could obtain money from England without restriction. In reply to. a suggestion that the £2O should go through the same channel! as at present and that any further applications for remittances should be made through the Reserve Bank as in the case of civilians, Mr Allum said that any such applications were being refused. Other members suggested that the amount should be increased to about £SO a year. Cclonel T. H. Dawson pointed out that civilians requiring money for overseas had to explain the reasons to the Reserve Bank. As a member of the forces would only require the money for leave purposes, the bank might not be interested. He stressed "the essenMr Allum concluded that he could tial nature of the' base pay office, see no reason why a member of the forces should not have the facilities available to civilians as well as to the facility of the base pay office, r