Homeservicemen Meet

Chronicle (Levin), 2 September 1949, Page 4

Homeservicemen Meet

^ The Levin br^nch of the Home.servicemen's Association is to hold. a social evening in St. Mary's Hall on October 5. This was arranged at a general meeting - of the branch on Wednesday night. There was a fair attendance and in the unavoidable absence of the president, Mr. R. D. Fowler, the chair was occupied by the vicepresident, Mr. W. J. Barrat. Mr. W. N. Bignal tendered his resignation from the position of secretary and Mr. T. A. Burling was appointed as his successor. Appreciation was expressed to Mr. Bignal, who continues as the branch's tfeasurer, for his secretarial work. An invitation was received from the Levin branch of the R.S.A. to play a rugby match between the two organisations. This was accepted, uie finalising of arrangements for the game and selection of the branch's team being left to the executive. A report of the association's annual Dominion conference, held in Werington last weekend, was. received and considered. A number of remits urging the Government to extend rehabilitation benefits to homeservicemen passed at the conference were approved by the meeting. Mention was made that the Minister of Rehabilitation, Mr. Skinner, had told the conference that priority for housing assistance had been extended to include men with four years' service in the armed forces. The Minister had sai'd that as soon as practicable it would he extended further as every h'omeserviceman, no matter how short his service, would at least he eligible for a housing loan. This advice was ■received with satisf action. The secretary reporfced that of the branch's 170 members, only 70 were financial, and that notices sent to unflnancial members liad met with a poor response. It was decided to take steps to have these subscriptions paid or members concerned return their badges, the matter being referred to the executive to proceed with. ,