SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 432, 24 June 1922, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

ANNUAL REUNION. Members of the Palmerston North South Africa \\ ar Veterans' Association gathered lau night for then- second annual reunion,"'non there was a largo number of members and guests present, presided over by Major ■l. I. Bosworth, The guests of the evening were; Mr D. F. Wilbur, United States Consul-General in New Zealand; Mr J. A. Nash, M.P.: Mr 11. Y. Lethbridge, president of the Manawatu A. and P, Association; Major Spragg, of Auckland; Captain Trask, Major Ashworth, Major Garner, Major Hardio and Messrs Carson and Russell, Maori war veterans. Apologies for absence were received from the GovernorGeneral, the Rt. Hon. W. F, Massey,-Major-General Sir Edward Ghaytor, Colonel Melville, the lion. Sir Heaton Rhodes, the Hon. D. 11. Guthrie, Captain Preece,Major Met ton and Messrs R. W. Dalton* B. J. Jacobs, P. L. Sim and E. Newman M.P.

In proposing the toast of “Our Guests,” •Mr J. Robertson voiced the pleasure they all felt at their attendance, and to Mr Wilbur, the representative of a great overseas nation, ho extended a cordial welcome, Responding to the toast Mr Nash considered it a splendid thing lor the South African war veterans to meet together every year in a reunion and confer in regard to their own interests. He did not think the Government could do too much for those who had loft these shores to tight, for their country, and he advised them to keep hammering away at the Government until their wishes were satisfied. Mr Nash made fitting reference to the, presence that night of Mr Wilbur, the American Consul-General, who was taking a keen interest in New Zealand and us affairs.

-Mr Wilbur, in responding to the toast, said it had been a pleasure to have attended the association’s reunion last year and ho look it as a privilege and an honour to have been invited this year.

Mr Lethbridge also suitably responded. -Mr A. T, Humphrey, of the Wanganui Association, conveyed the hearty greetings of that body to the meeting and wished it every success. He stated that the Palmerston North branch was extending its membership faster than the Wanganui Association.

Other toasts honoured were: —“The King”; “Army and Navy,” proposed by Captain Bradell; “The Chairman,” proposed by Air Wilbur; “Maori Mar Veterans.'" proposed by Major Spragg and responded to by Major Gainer; “Soldiers (U. the Great War,” proposed by Mr G. Gulliver and responded to by Major 1 birdie; “South African War Veterans,’ proposed by Mr Jamieson and responded to by Air R.'llogg; “The Ladies,” proposed by Captain T rusk; and “Absent Comrades," proposed by the chairman. Contributors to the musical stele of the programme were Messrs G. Titohener, L Chapman, Penfold, C. Houston, J. Ross, Jamieson and G, Wickes. The accompaniments wore played by Mr 11. Pepper.