SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 73, 19 December 1935, Page 17

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

Blenheim Branch Mooted * Immediately after the ■ holidays, Mr. J. I. Goldsmith, president of the Dominion Association of the South African War Veterans, and Captain J. J. ©lark, president of the Wellington aS•ociation, intend to visit Blenheim with the object of establishing a branch association there. This was announced at the monthly meeting of the Dominion association held recently. Tribute was paid by the president to the memory of the late Lord Jellicoe, and a motion of sympathy was carried, the secretary being asked to support it with a letter to Lady Jellicoe. The president stated that it was his intention to make an extensive tour ‘ of branch associations during January, and he would visit I’ahiatua, Hastings, Wairoa and Gisborne, returning by way of Wanganui and Palmerston North. Mr. H. J. Murdoch was appointed custodian and recorder of the association’s museum. Mr. Murdoch stated that he would be pleased to receive further gifts, which would be acknowledged by him personally. In referring to the War Veterans’ Allowance Bill, Captain J. J. Clark stated that more than 7000 men left New Zealand with various contingents for South Africa and that members of the Nint hand Tenth Contingents were ineligible for participation in the benefits granted by the Act owing to the fact of their service not provifig actual contact with the enemy. He stated that it was a grievous injustice to these men. The strength of both contingents was over 2000 men, being practically one third of the total number that left these shores. Captain Clark had the unanimous support of members, and it was decided to discuss the matter fully at the next meeting with the view of approaching the Government to have the anomaly removed. It was resolved to forward a letter of condolence to the Dunedin association to be conveyed to the relatives of the late Miss Monson, a prominent nurse in the South African campaign. Miss ' Monson’s death had been reported recently. The next meeting of the executive will take place in February. After the meeting members were entertained by the president.