RETURNED MEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 46, 4 December 1945, Page 4

RETURNED MEN

REHABILITATION MATTERS . Various matters affecting the welfare of discharged servicemen and their rehabilitation were dealt with by the Executive of the Ashburton branch of the Returned Services’ Association last evening, Several members expressed .themselves strongly about delays in the delivery of furniture to purchasers. It was stated that the inspectors of the State Advances Corporation did their work in about a week, but there was unnecessary delay in forwarding permits to vendors to deliver. Instances were cited of men whose applications for furniture had been in for three months, and they still had no furniture. Another had been paying insurance for three weeks on furniture lu. had never seen. Another matter which members considered should be investigated was the priority basis on which loans were granted to returned servicemen. It was felt that the system of giving priority in accordance with the theatre of service left loopholes for unfairness, men who had never been in action in some cases getting preference over those who had. It was decided to inform the Dominion Executive that the branch favoured the payment of interest on gratuities as from date of discharge. It was pointed out in support of this suggestion that a man discharged this year could get 74 per cent, interest on his gratuity if he left it with the Government for three years, yelf the Government had had the money of men discharged, say, in 1942, since then and they got no interest for that period. In view of the ever-increasing number of servicemen being discharged, the Executive decided to recommend to the supply authorities that more tobacco be made available to nominated sources.

It was agreed to ask the Borough and County Councils to hold “welcome home” gatherings more frequently—as soon as possible after the men returned. It was remarked by the president (Mr W. G. Welsh) that lack of a suitable hall seemed to be responsible for some trouble in this connection. It was resolved to hold a social after the next quarterly meeting, and to invite Captain C. H. Upham, V.C. and Bar, to attend.