SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 301, 5 December 1929, Page 7

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

EVIDENCE FOR COMMISSION. PENSIONS QUESTION, Wellington, Deo. 4. Several matters of importance to South African war veterans were dis* cussed at the last meeting of the Dominion executive of the South African War Veterans’ Association presided over by Captain J. J. Clark, Dominion president. Some discussion arose as to the circumstances connected with the burial of veterans of the South African War residing in New Zealand at the nme of their death. In the particular case under notice it was explained that the Internal Affairs Department held that the liability for funeral expenses in such a case had been questioned for the reason that the deceased had not been a member of the New Zealand forces, but was an Imperial man who had died in the Dominion. As the Pensions Department had stated that there was no authority to expend money to pay the burial expenses of other than members of New Zealand contingents, it was decided that a deputation wait on the Minister to ascertain the true position on on the matter. In connection with the evidence to be tendered to the Commission which was now taking evidence throughout the Dominion on pensions, veterans’ homes and the general rehabilitation of returned soldiers, it was stated that Dunedin and Auckland were advocating the establishment of veterans* homes, while the Dominion delegates had turned down these proposals at the recent conference. While the local association had a perfect right to advocate what they believed to be th* best course to adopt in che interests of veterans, it was the bounden duty of the executive to advocate before the Commission (through the president and vice-president and any others who might be chosen to present these views) the considered opinions of the Dominion conference. Otherwise, districts represented at the conference, but which would not be v’s’ted by the Commission, might be treated unfairly in not having their views nlacod before the duly authorised tribunal. ft was stated that there was a diversity of opinion on the matter of pensions. Some associations were of opinion that war pensions at the age of 65 years should he drawn es a right no matter what, the position of the recipient might be, while others held a contrary view. In this connection also the Dominion executive will nresent to the Commiss’on the considered views of the conference leaving the associations to submit their proposals or elaboration of various suggestions which have been or will be made to the Commission..