HOME SERVICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 16 October 1920, Page 8

HOME SERVICE

\ { CLAIMS FOR RECOGNITION" Considerable sympathy was apparent in the House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon with the claims of the men who served in the forces within New Zealand during the war. The debate which took place was} the result of the report to the House or the Defence Committee which; dealt • with the petition of the Homo Sryice : League (Incorporated). The petitioners prayed that certain privileges and * benefitb enjoyed by the mem bers of tire Expeditionary Force should be extended to them. ‘ . The Chairman of the Committee (Mr W S. (1 lean), reported tl?:n. 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, ir would mahe 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 consideration, He recognised that return- , ed soldiers should come first, but there i might he some crumbs that could fail r in the lap of these men from the rich

man’s table. Tte'suggested;that a small gratuity■ should be paid them. y Mr T. M. Wilford (.Leader of the Opposit ion) said he. would support. Ilia amendment, because there were mchjin the league who should, hot-bo 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 recommendation could be examined by a tribunal, and recommendationsihe 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 lire, and had borne all the horrors of.war, should 1)0 first considered, and after them the ■home service men. 1 . Mr W. D. Stewart, n member, of the Committee, said that six members . or the Committee were returned soldiers. They recognised that so long as the civil population of the dominion had not daring the war, been placed on a war footing as regards wages,, etc.,tlio home service men had their claims. 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 wofld. If the report went back to the Coißmittee, it might 'be possible to obfsp some further information fiorh abroadThe cause of the Hotae .Service League was also supported by Dr Nowman, Messrs G. Witty, W. H. Field. •E. Newman, H. Axmqre 11. F. Hudson, T. K. Sidey, A. Harris,,.!. McCombs, W. A. Voiteh, and D. 0. Sullivan, The amendment to refer the report bade to the Committee was agreed to on the voices. —L^z::rjai — a v