OFFICERS ELECTED

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 260, 30 July 1937, Page 13

OFFICERS ELECTED

♦ — South African Veterans’ Conference Domestic business occupied most of the discussion at'the continuation of the annual conference of the South African War Veterans’ Association of New Zealand yesterday. The conference also dealt with a number of remits from the branches asking for additional benefits for South African veterans. A remit from the Hutt Valley branch, asking that the Minister of Railways be requested to reinstate the free rail pass for ' returned soldiers travelling to the Veterans’ Home, Auckland, was carried unanimously. Mr. C. 11. Rltzema, Hutt Valley, said that recently he had been refused a free pass when he had applied for one to send an exsoldier up to the’ home for treatment. He had applied to the Minister of Railways and by his authority a pass had been issued. The secretary, Mr. J. H. E. Tilling, said that had Mr. Ritzema applied to the War Relief Association for the pass he would have had no difficulty. There was never any difficulty iu securing passes through that association. A Hutt Valley remit asked that in the case of members who were attending hospitals and were classed as unfit, but whose claims for invalidity pensions or war pension allowances had been dismissed on the grounds that aj>plicants were not totally incapacitated, the Minister concerned should be approached ami asked to permit such members to be registered as unemployed. The remit was passed. On the advice of- a further remit from the Hutt Valley branch, it was decided that the executive should arrange a deputation to the Minister of Pensions to discuss matters concerning South African veterans. It was agreed that the next annual conference of the association, to be held in Christchurch, should be held during the second week of July next year. Election or Officers. The following officers were elected: President, Mr. Ben Ellis, Dunedin; vice-presidents, Mr. J. V. Scott, Gisborne; Major H. M. Richardson, D. 5.0., M.C., Blenheim; Mr. G. N. Cresswell, Christchurch; Major P. E. de Brandon, 0.8. E., V.D., J.P., F.C.S., N.Z., Wellington; Mr. It. N. Todd, Invercargill; Mr. A. E, Bertram, Auckland; Mr. H. W. Watt, Tauranga; Mr. T. McWhirter, Taranaki; committee, Captain J. J. Clark, Messrs. R, H. Aldrich, It. Anderson. Wellington, A. J. Harper, J.P., A. G. Johnstone, Hutt Valley, E. Hogg, Levin; honorary auditor, Mr. J. L. Arcus, J.P., F.1.A.N.Z.; honorary solicitor, Hon. W. Perry, LL.B.; Dominion treasurer, Captain C. F. Bishop; representative on the Headquarters’ Reestablishment League, Captain J. J. . Clark, J.P.: representatives on the . N.Z.R.S.A., Messrs. J. I. Goldsmith. J. Cowdrey; secretary, Mr. J. FI. E. Tilling.