HIS MAJESTY'S VETERANS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 644, 22 October 1909, Page 8

HIS MAJESTY'S VETERANS.

■'■• ' * ;" — — i —♦" "• ■■■■ ANNUAL, CONGRESS. THE PENSION QUESTION, The annual Congress of the Eoyal Now Zealand Association of His Majesty's Veterans was bold in No. 1 committee-room at the Town Hall yesterday.: The chair was occupied by tho life-president, Colonel Newall, C.8., and tho following delegates were' present:—Captain E. Tregear, and Captain Barclay. Westport—H. Wulton, R.N., ,T.Jl.May; Wamranui—SergeantMnjor Christie; Masterton anilGisborne —Colonel Porter, C.8.; Taran'aki—Captains Hursthouso and Hamerton; Dunedin—Captain. Edwin, E.N.; secretary, and treasurer, Mr.. S. Stidolph. Tho annual report announced that two new branches had been formed since tho last annual y meeting of the Association, viz., Wanganui and Dunedin. 'With regret it.was recorded that tho secretary of the Buller branch, Mr. G. Dollman, was seriously ill. Efforts had been made to reestablish a branch at Napier,.but up to. the

present these had failed. Before long he hoped to report the formation of a branch; at Giaborne. Up'till the ; present 101 association decorations had been issued. While in.England the vice-president of the Wellington branch, Sir. B. E. Tingey, presented Field-Jlarshal Lord Eoberts with the association's badge, and that , distinguished soidior , had stated that he felt it an honour to receive it.' The rgnort and balance-sheet (which ■ showed a credit" balanco of -.£2 Is. 7d.) were adopted. .'■■'■ ■ On Captain Barclay's-motion it was decided that a committee, consisting of the chairman, Captain Edwin, and,the mover, be set up.to revise tho ■; rules.• bf the" association, and to report to,i a standing .committee of the Wellington ..branch, prior; to November 30. . ■'■ '-..■ . Consideration was. given the .proposal' to,' petition praying that a weekly' ■ pension. of 10s.' be -'granted to. veterans 6f. the :.Maori war 'in lieuMpf. any claim they may have on tho Old Age.Pension Fund. It-was decided that a deputation, consisting of Colonel Porter, C.8., Colonel'Newall, C.8., arid Captain 'HnrsthoU6o, wait .iupo'n the Prime... Minister in regard to- the matter. ''. ' ' ;: Tho Taranaki branch reported, that a memorial had been . erected ai Marsland Hill to the memory of those, who had fallen' in action in that vicinity during-tho war. Early 'in the year , the remains of, twenty-one soldiers which had been: buried at various places in Taranaki were exhumed, and re-interred in the To Hemri Cemetery, where the! graves could be, attended, to' properly. The ceremony,, performed, in the presence of many veterans, including several of the deceaseds* comrades, was a very impressive one. '. The following officers'were elected for tho ensuing year:—President, Colonel Newall, C.B. (for life); committee, Messrs. H. Walton and T. Urwin;.-secretory and treasurer, Mr. S. Stidolph; auditor, Captain B.'.T. Hamerton. '• At '. the conclusion of tho conference, Colonel Newall expressed great pleasure in meeting all those present,' among wnom wore so many of his. old comrades. Ho, must have known Sergeant-Major Christie for .fifty years, and there were. Captains Hamerton and' Hursthouse who'when the red flameof. war swept through Taranaki, had helped' ( ,tq stamp it'out'like tho Jiardyi.men they were'."'.'They were hot likely, to be asked, to put their.best foot forward in the fighting line, but they ' would always >be found ready and willing and.able (in a great ■many'cases) to do good work with the .reserves. He i hoped that he would meet, them all next Trafalgar-Day full of health aud. go ; aheadness. (Applause.)/". ■'■'"' . ' '.■•'; '■:', ' Major Lomas moved a vote, of thanks to the chairman for the exceEent manner in which ie had presided and-the many good storiea he had told them during the conference.