HOME SERVICE MEN

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 138, 11 June 1920, Page 6

HOME SERVICE MEN

TO ASK PARLIAMENT FOR WAI ' GRATUITY..

A meeting of the Homo Service League of New Zealand was held in the Chamber of Commerce last evening, about 50 members being present. Mr. J. W. Nicholson was elected to the- chair. The secretary (Mr. H. E. Elliott.) stated that the present membership was over 4000. ' Ho had received from 57 members of Parliament "unqualified promises to support tho claims of tho league as the league submitted them." A petition had been drawn up_ for presentation to Parliament. That petition was designed for the following objects: («.) To . obtain the payment of a w»r gratuity to members of the league; (b) to bring about the enactment of legislation whereby members of tho league should be entitled to participate in the benefits and privileges oE the Discharged Soldiers' 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 the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who served overseas; (d) to obtain payment of the increased separation allowances to members affected, such payment to be mado retroeprotive to the date of the gazetting 1 of the increase; (c) to obtain the issue of the King's silver war badge and the general service medal and ribbon, or sonio similar recognition of service in tho form of an authorised medal to members hot in receipt of either or both; (f) to obtain for members redress or assistance in any matters of hardship or loss arising out of or attributable to military service. Members of tho league were invited to sign the petition. Ho (the secretary) believed that some SOOO men in New Zealand were interested, and he coneidored that 5000 signatures at lea^t must be obtained. The meeting adjourned sine die.