ECHO OF THE PAST

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 2562, 20 December 1924, Page 7

ECHO OF THE PAST

WAR, VETERANS FORGATHER. Tt was a small but light.hearted band that gathered together at the Soldiers’ Club yesterday for the annual meeting of the New Zealand Association of His Majesty’s Wa> Veterans. The vice-president, Major H. Lomax, of Wanganui, presided. Others present were Messrs J. Heslop (New Plymouth). Wm. Heslop (Hastings), J. H. Carson (Masterton) C. Greenawav (New Plymouth), and C. A. M. Hirtzel, D. M. Skinner and F. W. Garner (secretary), all of Manawatu. An apology was rccecived from ‘Mr , R. Tingey, of Wellington. In welcoming the delegates, the chairman stated that there were several old members who were not in attendance. “But we are not getting any younger, and no doubt that has a great deal to do with it.’ Annual Report. The annual report stated that 84 Maori War pensioners died during the year, and on September 20, 1924, the total number drawing the pension had been reduced to 560. In December 1920, the War Graves Division wrote, intimating that the Department had undertaken the maintenance of graves if the Maori War veterans. So far, mly Wanganui and Masterton had ’.cut in a list of names. It was rcTottcd that the several branches had groat difficulty in getting members to meet, this being on account of their advanced age and infirmities._ The Poverty Bay branch had sent in re. turns. In speaking to the report, the chairman said that it must be per. ccivcd that the numbers were very steadily receding, and he supopsod that next year they would have suffered a further decrease. However, he remarked, is was a survival of the fittest. The membership of the Association’s branches are as follows, the figures for 1923 being given in parenthesis:— New Plymouth 46 (53); Wanganui 12 (14); Hastings 12 (14); Wellington 16 (21); Manawatu 10 (10); Wairarapa 5 (4); Gisborne 26 (26). The total membership 126 (143.) The election of officers for the onsuing year resulted as follows; — Vice-president: Lieut. C. A. M. Hirtzel; secretary, Major F. W. Garner. The secretary as instructed to address the new Governor-General, asking if he would accept the office of president to the Association. A vote of thanks was accorded the outgoing vice-president.