Rights of Veterans Of South African War

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7084, 5 December 1929, Page 7

Rights of Veterans Of South African War

PENSION AND OTHER CLAIMS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Several matters of importance to South African war veterans were discussed 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 of their death. residing in New Zealand at the time In one particular case under notice, it was explained that the Interna]. 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 forced but was an Imperial man who had died in the Dominion. , The pensions department; had stated that there was no authority to expend money to pay the buriai expenses of other than members of New Zealand contingents. It was decided that a deputation should wait on tho Minister to ascertain the true position.. la connection with the ovidence to be tendered to tho commission which was now taking evidence throughout the Dominion on pensions, veteran homes and tho general rehabilitation of returned soldiers, it was stated 'that Dunedin and Auckland were advocating the establishment of veterans’ homos, while the Dominion delegates had turned down these proposals at the recent conference. While the local associations had a perfect right to advocate what they believed to be tho best course to adopt in tho interests of veterans, it was the bounden duty of the executive to advocate before the commission the considered opinions of the Dominion, conference, , otherwise districts represented at the conference, but which would not be visited by the commission might be treated unfairly in not having their views placed before tho tribunal. It was stated there was a diversity of opinion on the matter of’pensions. Some associations were of the opinion that war pensions , at the ago of 65 years should be drawd as a. right, no matter what tho position of the recipient might Ye, while others held a contrary view. In this connection, also, the Dominion exocutivo will present to the commission the considered views of the conference.