SUBSIDY LIFTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27447, 21 July 1950, Page 8

SUBSIDY LIFTING

Effect On Returned Servicemen

2ND NZEF ASSOCIATION

The need for delegates to the annual Dominion conference to investigate thoroughly the question of the lifting of subsidies and its subsequent effect on returned servicemen trying to rehabilitate themselves, was urged by Mr N. Simmonds at the annual meeting of the Otago branch of the 2nd NZEF Association last night There was an attendance of about 30. Mr Simmonds said that he knew of several individual cases in Dunedin in which returned servicemen building their own homes and buying furniture had been hit very heavily by the lifting of subsidies. He thought that the Government should adopt a broader outlook towards returned servicemen, and urged that the conference delegates should find out how men in other centres had been affected.

It was decided to investigate the matter.

The retiring president, Mr G. S. Brown, reported that the past year had been a satisfactory one and that finances had shown an improvement. The membership had fluctuated, he said. Of the 3000 men on the files only 1181 were financial members of the association. During the year 179 new members had been enrolled. Another member stated that if New Zealand forces were to be sent to Korea they should be conscripted from the beginning without a call being made for volunteers. He felt this would be a much more equitable .method of getting forces. No action was taken in this matter.

■ A decision was made to support a remit urging the National Patriotic Fund Board to make loans to returned servicemen from the money it was holding. The question of holding a special holiday to commemorate El Alamein Day was left in the hands of the delegates to the annual Dominion conference.

Mr Brown was made an honorary life subscriber of the association for his work as president for the past two years. The following office-bearers were elected.—President, Mr J. S. Sloan; immediate past president, Mr G. S. Brown; secretary, Mr W. Cunningham; treasurer, Mr F. McGreevy; executive—Messrs J. A. B. McGill, W. Paul, J. S. Shaw, E. Steel; manage-, ment committee —Messrs R. Morrison, I. Dyer. I. W. D. O’Neill, O John. L Srrv