SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 141, 12 December 1923, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

A SOCIAL EVENING.

About sixty members of the Wellington branch of the South African Veterans' Association met in Wellington last evening, when Lieutenant-Colonel D. C. Bates presided, and a very happy evening was spent. "Our Association" 'was proposed by the president, and responded to by General Sir Alfred Robin. Captain T. C. Rockstrow responded to "The Army," and Mr. C Palmer to "The Navy." The toast to "Silent Comrades" was observed in solemn manner, Mr, Goudie singing "The Requiem." Varied items were supplied by Messrs. W. Goudie, R. Blow, W. B Brown, Wortley; and F. Thompson, while Mr. C. Kemp presided at the piano. In proposeing the main toast, LieutColonel Bates remarked that South Africa had a. wonderful influence on the Empire, for it was trained thereby to war and to transport, While it awoke the spirit of unity, and secured not only a physical but a tremendous moral victory. South Africa was won body and soul, and had loyally stood by the Empire even in the test of the Great War. They had been representatives of a great ideal, and they rejoiced in their achievements. The war itself had its effects in their lives. They had felt a solidarity and cohesion in that army which went from New Zealand which abided to-day in a social sentiment which an occasion like Cheir meeting, brought out. Their ranks would thin as time went on. Probably not more than 2000 were now left ot the 8000 who left these shores, and those who had returned had had their troubles. _ It was hard to get a footing in civil life, and the wounded and sick had a hard time. " The past is not all dead and gone. It is with us now in our thoughts, in our lives, and we /share with our comrades those loyal and patriotic sentiments which we had-when'we were soldiers of the Queen, when we were identified with our country's cause, when we felt we never loved New Zealand homes so much, when we wanted the glories .and liberties of the Empire to be sustained for the future. That war-cost at least £164,000,000. !The big war cost Uie Empire nearly eight billions, but it had to be, and the price paid was. we trust, worth it."

The following officers were elected for the next year:—Patron, General Sir Alfred Robin ; president, Lieut.-Colonel D. C. Bates; vice-presidents, Major W Hardham, V.C., Captain J.J. Clark, and Rev. A. M. Compton, M.A.; secretary Mr. G. E. Taylor. Mr. Taylor was the recipient of a presentation i n appreciation of his work for the association.