HOME SERVICEMEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 9, 19 September 1944, Page 2

HOME SERVICEMEN

VALUE OF ORGANISATION MANY ADVANTAGES OFFERED Steps to form a strong branch of tlie New Zealand Home Servicemen's Association in Hamilton are well advanced and the membership which now stands at is steadily grow-> ing. In order to strengthen the or I ganisation it is desired that subbranches should b6 formed in every town in the Waikato and in every locality where there, are sufficient eligible men to warrant a sub-branch being formed. Those eligible are men or women who have served with the Armed Forces for six months or more, or who have served for a shorter period and have been released through ill-health or injury. Mr F. J. Frew Regent Theatre Buildings, Hamilton has been appointed secretary of the Hamilton branch, and reports he lias received from the Dominion president Mr R. P. Lcvien, indicate that solid progress has. been made > not only in establishing the association, but in pressing the claims of members before the Government and the Director of Rehabilitation Mr F. Baker for consideration. In a letter to the association, Mr Baker stated that assistance was being provided to home servicemen to return to civilian employment. If unable to obtain Avork immediately, they were, entitled to a'rehabilitation allowance. Special grants up to £50 were available in cases of financial embarrassment wliil e trade training would be given where required. Educational assistance tools of trade, housing, farming' and furniture loans Army vehicles and ' * '» priority in the allocation of State rental houses were among the advantages open to home servicemen ns well as to those who had served overseas.. The membership of the association up to July 31 stood at 6000 but as there are 21,000 men and women who have be,en released from the Forces, it is evident there is ample scope for a greatly increased membership.