GREATER AID FOR HOME SERVICEMEN ADVOCATED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22729, 30 August 1948, Page 4

GREATER AID FOR HOME SERVICEMEN ADVOCATED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 30. One of the things that was working against the New Zealand Home Servicemen's Association was that circumstances had prevented the proper rehabilitation of many home servicemen and women, said Mr. F. W. MacDermott. president, speaking at the association’s fourth annual conference. “We have cases where some servicemen have had to' be satisfied with second-best jobs," he said. “Many of them have been directed into these jobs. Our task is to see that they receive better consideration. We will be approaching the Government again on the question of priorities for exscrviccmcn.

The Defence Minister, Mr. F. Jones, explained the Government’s policy of Drogressivcly lowering priorities for home servicemen as the commitments for men who had been overseas grew less. An example of this policy was the recent decision of the Rehabilitation Board to make home servicemen eligible for certain business loans. The Governor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, said the association had a recognised position in the life of New Zealand and he appealed to all home servicemen to rally round their branches and become financial members.

Also present were Sir Howard Kipoenberger. Dominion president of the R.S.A.. and the acting-Mayor. Mr. R. L. Mac Alister.