AFRICAN WAR VETERANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19416, 26 August 1926, Page 7

AFRICAN WAR VETERANS

CONCENTRATION OF GRAVES. QUALIFICATION FOR PENSIONS. DISCUSSION AT -CONFERENCE. fBT TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.]* WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The annual conference of the South African War Veterans' Association opened here to-day. The question of the concentration of all graves of former members of the contingents was discussed, when Mr. V. Scott, of the graves department of tho Department of Internal Affairs, attended to explain matters in connection with the scheme. Mr. Harlancl, cm<» tery officer, was also present. Etc man# reference to the recently surveyed graves site at Karori. A remit in connection with the graves subject which was submitted by the Eltham branch, read as follows; "That this conference of South, African Veterans is of opinion, that Capetown is more suitable for the concentration of all the graves, because it will be more convenient for friends and relations who desire to visit, graves there than at Bloerafonteiu, which is a considerable distance from the nearest point." Colonel Fraser suggested that thei remit should be amended to read: "That if it is practicable this conference is of opinion that the remains of our contingents should be removed to Capetown, if not," to Blocimfdhtein," It was generally, agreed that- Capetown should receivo first consideration. Eventually the modified remit was carried. The following remits in respoct to pensions were carried: —That the Government be requested to give favourable consideration., to the grafting ' of, pensions to South African , warveterans where disability- occurs before reaching the qualifying age; thai, while fully appreciating "the pension granted to South African- men, this association considers, in view of the number of men'who aro becomingincapacitated '.thfoagb • rheumatism, and, other,, ailraauts,. that fcho Government should be asked to mako the pension operative at the ago of 60 years; that the Dominion executive bo instructed to present a petition to Parliament to have the South African war pension placed 'W 5 tlitf samer footing as the Maori War pension; * that. this- conference if strongly' of opiivion' that tho age for the South African war pension should be 60 tind not 66; as at present, or on becoming physically uufit; thai the pension, by right of service, include all South'-'-; African ex-service men, domiciled for 20 to 25 yours in tho Dominion." • Tho Auckland branch recommended, and it was carried, that tho Government be asked to establish properly constituted military wards at the public hospitals in the four centres, for the treatment of all ex-service men requiring treatment for wounds or other service disabilities. ■ t .■ i . It was' decided, on the recommendation of tho Auckland branch, Wat the' Gov-ernment-he asked to extend to the South African veterans the right of appearing before ail appeal board", tho sanio as was enjoyed by the returned soldier* of the !ato war. " • ' '"

The following remit, submitted by tho Wellington branch, 'was carried: "That in the event of tho death of u man who served in tho South African War, with either tho New Zealand- contjogeinksF tho IttippvlaV Arftiy' mi. tho, forces raised fpr .that war, .whose are such that he would bo buried as a pauper, the Government be as'lced to contribute to the cost of the funeral tho same amount .of money as it does in the case pf a "pensioner of tho Great. War." In the afternoon the delegate! were the guests of Captain and Mrse Clark. They were conveyed to Karor: by motorcar to visit the veterans' graven, tho soldiers' cemcterv, and the new'ly surveyed site for tbe South African veterans.

DECISION TO APIXWIATIB.

DOMINION RETURNED SOLDIERS. [BY TI&EGRA*K.~ PltjlßS ABiiCCIAWONT. ] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A decision that the South African War Veterans' Association should affiliate with the Dominion Returned Soldiers' Association, was made atthe annual conference )f the former body to-day.

< The • secretary. said the 1 executive had passed '& tesftltitiOri' thatf' the - 1 and the' ; 'Dbnfife'i6tf w Rettirniid Soldiers' Association'should affiliate, as from June 1927, subject to the ratification of the association's chairman,'

Captain J. J. Clark said thai,, at the last conference. it was proved that amalgamation waa npt dosijoci ' by, the. South African veterans, whose, meinbexs now almost equalled those 'of the _ Returned Soldiers' Association. ...Butthe time;,would jome when the Raturned Soldiers'' Association would he stronger than it- was to-day. The suggestion of affiliation which had ronie from the returned soldiers: was a different matter, which would allow tho preservation of identity and would enlist the hacking of the men of the Great War in.any, assistance sought from the Government.

Mr. K. 8. Maloolm ( Wanganui) thought the association should continue on its own, as it had made good progress. In view of the fact that the previous Dominion . conference had ruled against affiliation, he held that the remits were out of order. The chairman agreed that this resolution had been passed and was not rescinded but with the passage of time and the reduction of membership the aspect of things had changed. Tho Returned Soldiers' Association had already ratified such an arrangement and he thought it was the duty of the present conference to do so. Also it waa quite in order for the conference to a^ree. Mr. J. A. Simpson (Hasiinßs) Baid that affiliation did not necessarily, mean amalgamation. He favoured it, as both bodies had a similar Imperial comradeship under the British Empire Service League.' ' • * n Tho Rev, D. Dctton (Duncdin) said tho word "amalgamation" had caused a great deal of misapprehension. If the matter were deferred lor a year,/ in order that all parts of. the association might be made aware that affiliation woula not end in the merging of the identity of the association, it would assist the ultimate affiliation immensely. Sir Alfred Robin asked why "they should wait another year. 'Hie slightest check was unwise in view of the progress made 'toward affiliation which, in many . cases, would mean strength, Mr. C. N. Cresswell said that while Christchurch was against araiilgamation it was in favour of affiliation. The Returned Soldiers' Association in Christchurch would benefit from it now and the South African Veterans' Association probably would benefit later. Mr. L. de Launay said affiliation would be of the Dominion* executives, and would not affect individual - fostering of either association in local branches. It would simply mean concerted action in securing benefits and there could bo nothing to lose bv it. Other delegates, Having sjpken in support of affiliation, the following remit was moved bv Colonel Eraser (Auckland):~ "That affiliation with the Returned Soldiers' Association be approved, subject to safeguards for maintaining oar own idenllt\ir, Lawson (Stratford) seconded tha resolution, which was carried with the dissent of Mr. K. S. Malcoim and tho <- Rev. D. Button.