1899—1937.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 July 1937, Page 8

1899—1937.

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS.

COMRADES’ HAPPY RE-UNION,

Another reunion of men who served in the South African War has come and gone and it has not shown any Sign of a diminution in fervour of comradeship. It was held on Saturday evening- under the auspices of the Levin branch of the South African War Veterans’ Association and the accommodation arranged in th 6 Druids’ Hall was well availed of,-over eighty being- present. This meeting of “ old cobbers ’ ’ once a year, at which the days on the veldt are lived again, is becoming more and more popular with the passing ,of time. The evening was given over to toasts, interspersed with song and story, and the proceedings were,marked by great heartiness, a spirit of solidarity among the men of this district being evident. The tables, decorated in the association’s colours and well-laden with refreshments, w r ere set out in horse shoe fashion. At the head sat the President of the local association, Mr. E. Hogg, who -was master of ceremonies, and with him were: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. P. W. Goldsmith), Colonel J. H. Whyte (Palmerston North), Mr. R. J. H. Aldrich (a member of the Wellington Association Executive and a delegate to the Dominion Conference), Mr. A. Collins (of Hutt Valley, and a members of the Dominion Executive), Mr. Paul Peters (Wellington, and a member of the Dominion Executive), Lieut--Colonel Burton Mabin (a vice-president of and Mr. B. C. Cull (a member of the Dominion Executive). Among the visitors were noted the following: Mr. R. Tomkins (a member of the Dominion Executive), Sergeant-Major C. H. Ritzema (secretary of the Hutt Valley Association), Dr. H.-Paterson (a member of; the executive of the Pahiatua R.S.A.), Mr. A. MaeKewan Mason (secretary of the Pahiatua S.A.V.A.), Messrs J. Eemnent, T. E. Edge, Walters, Chambers and McLaughlin (all of Eketahuna), Mr. J. Linklater (Palmerston North). Apologies for absence were received from: General Young (Otaki), Sergeant Major M. Jennens, Mr. A. T. Bendall (secretary of the Palmerston North Association), Mr. S. R. Stedman, Captain J. J. Clarke (Wellington),*Colonel Guy Powles, Mr. J. Hesp, Mr. J. I. Goldsmith (Wellington), • Messrs Boddington and Cameron (Wairarapa), and A. D- Johnston and H. Munro (Wellington). The Toast List. After the toast of "The King” had been honoured at the behest of the chairman, the gathering- stood in silence in memory of Fallen Comrades, while Mr. G. R. Lester sounded the "Last Post,”

In proposing the toast of (‘Levin and District," Mr. H. J. Lancaster remarked that the town had the , oldest mayor in the Dominion to guide its destinies, and although he was over eighty years of age his interest in the welfare of the town was outstanding. Levin boasted one of the finest climates of the Dominion, he said, while the Horowhenua Lake to the west and the mountains to

the east were attractions which singled it out as a place of beauty. The country of the district surrounding it was some of the best and most fertile of any to be found elsewhere. Replying, His Worship the Mayor said the people of the town were rather modest for all the previous speaker had said, andi did not applaud their own attractions, realising that there were other polaces boasting excellencies of which they w-ere as proud as Levin was of hers. He was very pleased to see so many visitors present and welcomed them *on behalf of the town. The toast of “The Dominion Executive” was proposed by Mr. Martin Simeox (Otald), who said that his body! was doing a great deal of work and comrades had to thank them for many things. They had placed the veterans on a sound footing as far as pensions were concerned. The veterans should be proud of what the executive had accomplished, and was doing, he added. Responding, Mr. Peters expressed the opinion that the Dominion Executive could do very little without the assistance of outside associations, and he was pleased that Levin ranked equally with many other of the major associations He said that any benefit members of the South African Veterans’ Association had received from the Government had been largely through the approaches of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. That body had taken up the attitude that anything it obtained the veteran was entitled to as well. Speaking also, but as a delegate to the Dominion Conference, Mr. Aldrich said it was only the support of the associations that made work on the executive worth while.

Proposing the toast of “Our Visitors. “ Mr A. Blackwood (Shannon) said I it was pleasing to see so many visitors present. He congratulated the Levin branch on the excellent way in which it had organised the function, and said he had been given to understand it wa« one of the best in the Dominion. In response, Dr. Paterson said he had once been a resident of Otaki and he heldvery pleasant recollections of the district. One impressive beauty which stood out la iiiS memory was the drive along the road from Te Horo to Otaki on a fine evening, when one could look out towards the sea and there in all its majesty was Mount Egmont on the sky-line. He and his contingent were ’ pleased to be present, the speaker assur- 1 ed all. J

The toast of “The Army, Navy and Air Force’ ’ was sponsored by Mr. Mackewan Mason. In acknowledging' the

.speaker ’s remarks, Colonel Whyte advocated a more attractive social aide to these services, and said that if this ayas done recruits would be more eagerto join up. He was of the opinion that for'Britain to re-arm was sound, for in that lay the way .to peace. V 'The toast of “The Returned Soldiers Association” was in the capable handsof Mr. Linklater, who at the outset of • his remarks said he was very pleased indeed to meet so many old . friends again. Any requests made by the South African Veterans’ Association to thoR.S.A. had received attention almost immediately. He wished to say, as- one who had been a member of the House of Representatives, and as a member of' the Patriotic Society in Palmerston North, that the R.S.A. had. done a very great deal |of . the/ veteran. Since the ! inception of the-ICS.A. its executive had kept the claims of the ex-soldier before the Government. The association had done a tremendous amount for the ' soldier who had fallen by the wayside in the race of life. The soldier owed the association a debt of gratitude. In replying, Mr. T. G.. Vincent said the R.S.A. had always counted it a privilege to be associated with the South African Veterans.

Mr. Aldrich humorously proposed the toast of “Old- Comrades,” and then said that -when., incidents of the war werepondered on, minds- turned to old friends. It was w r orthy of mention that to-day the same spirit of those days was to be seen in the way veteranswere keeping organised. Other , toasts honoured were: “Our Entertainers,” proposed bv Mr. Collins; “The Press, Mr R. Evans;>The’ Ladies/’ Mr. J. J. Welply; and “The Caterers,”’ Mr. I. D, Parsons.

I At the conclusion Mr. Aldrich proposed the toast of the President of the local association, and in doing sa* wished Mr. and Mrs. Hogg longlife and happiness. He said there not one man present; who did not know and appreciate the valuable work that, Mr. Hogg was doing. His heart and. soul were in the work for veterans. He congratulated the association on having such a worthy president. In replying,.. Mr. Hogg thanked the gathering for the honour‘done him.

The Musical ,Programme. The evening was given over to song and story between the toasts, and an - excellent programme was contributed by the following; Cornet solo, Mr. G. Lester; songs, Messrs A. Mottershead,, C. Cronquest-(Shannon), J. D. Campbell(Mangaore), and T. G. Vincent; dialogue, Mr.?H. Ward; while community singing was led by Mr, E. H. Greenhough. Accompaniments at the piano were played .by Mr. G. H. Sorensen.

The singing of Auld Lang Syne, at midnight, terminated what was' undoubtedly one of the best re-unions eyer held by the 'association, and this was entirely ~ due'to thorough organisation by the executive, with thought concentrated on a programme of interest to all. ; ; ■