FEW ATTEND

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3266, 21 May 1943, Page 5

FEW ATTEND

HOME SERVICEMEN’S ASSN. MEETING HELD IN PAEROA OBJECTS OF THE ORGANISATION Although the attendance was small at the meeting of servicemen held in the Regent Hall on Wednesday night in an effort to form a branch of the New Zealand Home Servicemen’s Association in Paeroa those present displayed considerable interest in the movement. Mr J. Maunder, of Turua, president of the Hauraki Plains branch of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force Association, presided. Mr A. Ingle, the Dominion president of the New* Zealand Home Ser vices Association, explained that the organisation had been formed as a result of many requests over the past three years. There were many men in the servics who through no fault of their own had not been able to go overseas but had suffered hardship similarly to others who had been allowed to. serve ’ their country overseas. '

Borne had been injured and needed assistance in getting their dues and for this reason, to help all servicemen to get their just rights when they left the services, was the organisation being formed. The New Zealand Home Services Association had similar aims to the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force Association with which it was associated and would strive for the welfare of all servicemen and servicewomen. Eventually it would become one of the biggest organisations in the Dominion and the size of its membership would be its strength. Who Can Be Members Membership, explained Mr Ingle, was open to the following people:— Ordinary members: Any persons who are or have been mobilised for full time service in or with any branch of His Majesty’s Forces (Navy, Army, Air Force or Merchant Navy). Honorary members: Any person approved by the executive of the N.Z. Home Services Association who accepts and supports the policy, aims and objects of the Association and who has given valuable assistance to the association. Life members: Any of the ordinary members may be admitted to life membership on being specially elected by a general meeting of the association. A Fight Before It Mr D. G. Surnet said when he had finally returned to New Zealand he had set himself to find out what the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force Association was doing and after investigating the organisation thoroughly he had joined up. The Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force definitely had a fight on its hands. He personally was a member of the Returned (Services Association as well from the last' war and hoped both organisations would be able to work together for the benefit of all servicemen.

He stated that the reason for the formation of the N.Z. Home Services Association was because of the persistent demand for some protection for men who had served for various periods in the Armed Forces in New Zealand and were now out of the forces and were trying to rehabilitate themselves.

He quoted the case of a man who had been discharged from the Army without much notice. He had no civilian clothes but the Army required him to hand in his uniform before they would give him the £7 10s mufti allowance which at present was all he was entitled to. As all knew, £7 10s would purchase very little of an outfit for any person. Rectifying The Wrongs

Continuing, Mr Sumet quoted other instances of men and their families treated unfairly, emphasising that it would be the aim of the N.Z. Home Services Association to rectify these wrongs. The association would grow and by its membership would become very powerful and would be then able to demand justice from the Government because of its very numbers. That was where the organisation was political. The objects of the N.Z. Home Services Association were the promotion of the welfare of the members and their dependants; to further among the members the spirit of comradeship and mutual help; to see to the maintenance and comfort of members and, their dependants especially those who may be disabled, sick, aged or needy; to diffuse information on .all matters affecting, members and to establish and maintain and conduct offices with the necessary staff and if thought fit to provide clubhouses or other conveniences for members and their friends; to affi-

liate and fully co-operate with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Forces Association Incorporated for the purpose of the promotion of the welfare of returned and overseas servicemen and servicewomen and their dependants; to undertake any work which may appeal’ to the association to be in accordance with its obejcts and to do such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects. Disability Compensations It would be the aim of the association to secure a minimuip disability coppensation of £5 10 s, not £2 plus 30s economic allowance as was granted at present.

'Surely the people who can find £16,000,000 a day to kill ca nfind a similar amount to allow those who had gone out to fight for freedom, to live. He pointed out that it was in the hands of those affected to secure decent conditions, good homes and proper food by organising and demanding their rights. Ha explained the case of a married man with a wife and children who dies on service, pointing out the unfairness of the treatment which was meted out to these people. It was not right that the wife should be handed over to the Social Security Department on a very small pension.

The women had. given their all and were entitled to be at least fairly treated and- given a reasonable income on which to bring up the family. ' All To Join Up ' In conclusion, he appealed to all the relatives of members of the Armgd Forces to get together and establish a branch of the N.Z. Home Services Association in Paeroa. Mr D. H. Skilton, of the Auckland executive of the N.Z. Home Services Association, spoke on rehabilitation contending that the Government had not done anything that it had promised when the war had first started. They had promised, to give all returned men homes, businesses or farms and as yet nothing had been, done. All that the Government had done was to make a little money available at four per cent, and even this was very difficult to get. The Government stood to make money out of the returned soldier as it was at present. Voice. —My experience of rehabilitation is that it is foolish. They turn down application after application made by returned soldiers for homes and farms. No Homes Available He touched on the housing position, pointing out that men returning would have to wait 10 or 15 years before they could get a house which

the Government proposed to build for them simply because so many homes were needed. Soldiers were to be given 25 per cent, of the State houses which became vacant but he considered it should be 75 per cent. These men had been promised homes before they went away and were entitled l to them. In conclusion he also made an appeal for all to join up holding out that unity was strength. When the organisation was strong through membership it could demand justice. Mr Surnet advised the meeting to advise any person who whs confronted with a problem to contact the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force Association, whether they were members or not, and all possible would be done for them. Another meeting would be held in Paeroa at an early date when a branch of the N.|Z. Home Services Association would be formed he concluded.