SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 212, 4 June 1929, Page 9

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

ANNUAL REUNION. The annual reunion of the South African Veterans’ Association was held on Saturday night, Mr. P. de B. Brandon presiding over a good attendance. The proceedings were enthusiastic, and the following toast list was honoured: —“The King,” proposed by the chairman; “Kindred Associations,” proposed by Mr. J. A. Shand, responded to by Mr. Cave, of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association ; “The Dominion Executive,” by Mr. J. I. Goldsmith, secretary of the Wellington South African Veterans’ Association, responded to by Mr. J. J. Clark, the ;Dominion president; and “Absent Comrades,” by Mr. J. Kinsey. Among those present were: Messrs. J. J. Clark (president of the Dominion Council of the South African Veterans’ Association), _A. Young (Wellington), Carter (Napier), Selling (Dunedin), Ashcroft (Auckland), Arthur (West Coast), and Harris (North Auckland). Apologies were received from General Sir Alfred Robin, and Messrs. G. T. Hall, G. Powles, A. Davey, J. T. Watson (secretary Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association), and others in various parts of the Dominion. The renewed interest being taken in the South African Veterans’ Associations throughout New Zealand, and the remarkable increase in membership and. general activities, were stressed by several of the speakers. The hope was expressed that, while individual work by various veteran associations in the Dominion was undoubtedly necessary, there was an in--dication that an amalgamation of inter*, ests was presenting itself for consideration. One speaker expressed the that such a combination effected through-, out New Zealand- would make for the’ best interests of the returned men of both.' the South African and the Great War.' 1 . It was an important question, and all} avenues in that connection should be ex--, plored. . ?■ Those who contributed to an excellent, programme in connection with the side of. the function, arranged by Mr. J.I I. Goldsmith and a committee, were’ Messrs. Ash. Edwards, K. Rigby, W.C Davies (songs), Jacobsen (ventriloquial' act), J. Chandler, Ross, Williams, Jack,,' lyilkinson (humorous songs and dia.} logues), Patterson and Hull (patter spe-’. cialties), C. J. Evans (minstrel selections), and Ted Edwards (charcoal’ sketches).