HOME SERVICE MEN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 220, 11 June 1920, Page 8

HOME SERVICE MEN

A PETITION TO PARLIAMENT

WAR GRATUITY ASKED FOR

About 50 Wellington members of tho Homo Service League of Now Zealand met in tho Chamber of Commerce last evening. Mr. J. W. Nicholson was elected to the chair. The league is a comparatively new body. The qualification lor membership is stated in tho rules as follows All attested members of tho New Zealand Military l'orces (including officers and non-commissioned officers) whoso military service subsequent to tho dato of> their last attestation was, during thS war period 1911-1919 confined to New Zealand, shall be eligiblo as members of the league, and upon the application of any other person, part of whose service was confined to New Zealand, the oxecutivo shall have discretionary power to admit that person to membership." The secretary (.Mr. H. 1). .Elliott) reported that the league had been registered some months po. He believed that it was much nearer than beforo to the goal at which .it aimed. The present membership was over 4000. He had received from 57 members of Parliament "unqualified promises to support the claims of the league as tho league submitted them."" A petition had been drawn up for presentation to Parliame it. That petition was designed for the following objects: (a) To obtain tho payment of a war gratuity to members of the league; (B) to bring about the enactment of legislation whereby members of the league should be entitled to participate in the benefits and privileges of the Discharged Soldiere' Settlement Act, 1915, and the Repatriation Act, 1918, and any amendments thereof; (c). to obtain for members demobilised or discharged the payment of the mufti allowance as paid to members of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force who served overseas; (d) to obtain payment of the increased separation allowances to members affected, such payment to be made retrospective to the dato of the gazetting of tho increase; (e) to obtain tho issue of the King's silver war badge and the general service medal and ribbon, or some similar recognition of Beryice in the form of an authorised medal to members not in receipt of cither or both; (f) to obtain for members redress or assistance in any matters of hardship or loss arising out of or attributable to militarv service. Members of the league were invited to sign the petition. He (the secretary) .believed that some 8000 men in New Zealand were interested, and he considered that 50M signatures" at least must be obtained. The meeting adjourned sine dio.