SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19119, 10 September 1925, Page 12

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS.

ASSOCIATION MEETING. REQUESTS TO GOVERNMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] WELLINGTON. Wednerd»y. The South African War Veteran's Conference was presided over by Captain J. Simpson, Dominion president. 'The following cable message was received from Field-Marshal Earl Haig: "Please convoy my sincere greetings and best wishes to all South African veterans." A suitable reply was sent. Captain Simpson said the association was forging ahead, thanks to the efforts of a live secretary. The principal business would be the setting up of a deputation to wait on the Prime Minister to urge that a military pension by right be granted to all South African veterans at the age of 60, similar to that granted Maori War veterans. If their representations were not successful they would keep on plodding away till they got what they asked for. A remit was carried deciding to ask the Government to give preference to a,ll members of the South African War Veterans' Association in applyjng for loans under the Advances to Settlers ancl Advances to Workers Acts.

The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. J, J. Clark, Wellington; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. A. Sanson, Rev. D. Button, Dr. G. M. Cresswell, Mr. E. G. Fraser, Auckland, Mr, D. C. Bates. Mr. -T. A. Sanson was made the first honorary life member. A deputation is to wait on the Prime Minister regal-ding questions of pensions and advances to Settlers and workers. The Governor-General was present at a social this evening. He delivered a speech commending "the association and saying the lessons learned in South Africa were invaluable during the Great War.