HOME SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 85, 7 October 1920, Page 4

HOME SERVICE

CLAIMS FOR RECOGNITION

SYMPATHY IN THIS HOUSE.

Considerable sympathy was apparent in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon with the- claims of the men who served in the forces within New Zealand during the war. The debate which took- place wais the result of the report to the House of the Defence Committee which dealt wish the petition of the Home Service League (Incorporated). The petitioners prayed that certain privileges and benefits enjoyed by the members of the Expeditionary Force should be extended to them. The Chairman of the Committee (Mr. W. S.. Glenn) reported that the Committee recognised the splendid services of the men who were retained on home service, but was' of opinion that until all overseas men had been fully repatriated, it would make no recommendation. It ■was, however, of the opinion that in the meantime some medal or badge should be issued to the men in recognition of their services. Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) was sorry the report was not more favourable. He would move to refer the petition back for further considera-' tion. He recognised that returned soldiers should come first, but there might be some crumbs that could fall in the lap of these men from the rich man's table. He suggested that a small gratuity should be paid them. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) said he would support the amendment, because there were m'en in the league who should not be dealt with in the terms of the recommendation. Some of the men who remained serving at home did not desire consideration, but others might. Each claim for recognition could be examined by a tribunal, and recommendations be made accordingly. Mr. Glenn expressed the- opinion that the. House did not quite understand the recommendation of the. Committee. The finding was that the men who had fought, and been under shell fire, and had borne all the horrors of war, should be' first considered, and after them the home service men. Mr. W D. Stewart, a. member of the Committee, said that six members of the Committee were returned soldiers. They recognised that so long as the civil population of the Dominion had not, during the war, been placed on a i war footing as regards wc<ges, «tc, the I home service men had their claim;;. They had made their ■. sacrifices and had suffered heavy financial loss. Another factor governing the decision was that many claims were yet. before the Government—a more adequate pension 'for injured men, for instance—that there was not reasonable hope of their claims being met. The Committee had tried to get information as to what had been done in other parts of the world. If the report went back to the Committee, it might be possible to obtain some further information from abroad.

The cause of the Home Service League was also supported by Dr. Newman. Messrs. G. Witty, W. H. Field, E. Newman, H. Atinore, B. P. Hudson, T. K. Sidey, A. Harris. J. M'Combs; W. A. Veitch, and D. G. Sullivan. .

The amendment to refer tfie -report tack to the Committee was agreed to on the voioes.