SOUTH AFRICAN WAR VETERANS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 263, 2 August 1941, Page 12

SOUTH AFRICAN WAR VETERANS

Annual Meeting Held

The annual meeting of the Wellington branch of the South African War Veterans’ Association was held last night. There was a good attendance. An apology for absence was. received from Mr. Perry, M.L.C. The annual report stated that members should feel proud that so many South African veterans had answered the call of Empire and were again in the ranks of the forces or giving essential help to the A.R.P. scheme or to patriotic causes. The executive had met regularly during the year and had dealt with many matters of interest and benefit to veterans. Action regarding pensions was undertaken on behalf ot inquirers from all parts of the Dominion,, and the volumes of work, indicating the interest o£ veterans in their association, could be judged by the fact that they received approximately 308 letters and posted letters and advices to members totalling more than 800. The attendances as meetings had been excellent, in spite of ■ other calls due to the exigencies of the times. ; A tribute was paid to the work of the women’s committee. It was recommended that further social evenings be held. Tributes were paid to Mr. Winston Churchill, who had served as war correspondent with a Scottish unit in the South African campaign, and Field-Marshal Smuts. It was decided to write to Brigadier Puttick congratulating him on his appointment as New Zealand Chief of General Staff.

Mrs. Goldsmith, wife of the president, was thanked for her services to the as sociation. Colonel Mubin, the outgoing president, who declined re-election, was made an honorary life member. Officers elected were:—Patron, Sir Donald McGavin; president, Mr. J. I. Goldsmith; vice-presidents, Col. Mabin, Messrs. J. J. Clark, Nelson Jones, J. H. Cowdrey, D. Wilson, A. Anderson; padre, the Rev. D. C. Bates; hon. solicitor. Mr. Perry, M.L.C.; hon. secretary, Mr. E. A. Knights; hon. treasurer, Mr. B. C. Cull; hon. auditor, Mr. J. L. Arcus; executive, Messrs. A. Johnstone. J. Halleu, J. Henderson, G. Klee, D. McGavin, R. Anderson, W. K. Taplin, A. H. Kerr, D. Peters, H. E. Goodwin, T. Bohlson. The annual Dominion conference will he held in Wellington on August 27.