HIS MAJESTY'S VETERANS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7449, 25 May 1911, Page 1

HIS MAJESTY'S VETERANS

-ANNUAL REUNION. * j Tho annual reunion of the Wellingtonbranch of the Royal New Zealand Association of His Majesty’s Veterans Was held at Godber’s. Cuba street, last night. Colonel Newall, C. 8.. presided, and he was supported on eHher hand by tho Hon. Georeo Fow'ds Acting-Minister of Do r cnce'). the Hon. C. M.L.C., and Mr J. P. Luke. M.P. Apologies were received from hts .Excellency tho Governor, General Gorilew 'the Hon, Carroll fA^ting-Prlme' Minister!. the Mayor of Wellington (Mr T. M. WUford). and Colonel R. .1. Collins, T.S.O. Proposing tho toast of tho /ivmv and Navy the chairman had a little to sav about the territorials. Ho was satisfied that, there was available nro"nsf the vontli of New. Zealand th« best matArm.L'in the world, strong vounc men imbued with a robust, patriotic .spirit. He was enna'lv satisfied that tho man in choree of the new defence scheme. General won’d do tho most, that was possible with tho men available. Cantafn Fd-Hn. R.N., responded on behalf of the navy. Ho was of ordnion that tha navy was never so serous* as it was to.dav. and be bo**«*d +v>© men and the officers would fi'rbt tho ships as well as their forbears had done in days of ■old. Maior Hum®' returned thanks on-behalf of tb.s arrav. He argued that-no of defence was complete without an efficient armv. However Rowsr f iil a navy might he/ it was not on record that anv navy had ever finished a war. Tho Hon. Gcorme Fow I ds proposed ‘'Sneers to tho Veterans’ Association.*' Ho be* Im*-ed it was a-good and proper thing that veterans should be honoured.- an cl be bo-p-wed that, it was mod that, tbo veterans flbould m«»t at a social o-atherini? once a year. to ftp-fit tbc’r ba + t T es o’er He re-’oenised that in the dav« o l d in New Thailand dfiere was a magnificent lot of pioneers who responded to + ho call to defend their country, and they bad don© fbc*r work so well that practicaUv no : trace of bitterness was left fiebbid, and in the years since the wars Maori and Fnronenn had been ablo to live together in peace and am ? t,v. TTv's sroVe volumes for the men who bad tak®u part in tfio.ee early stmtrerTcs, The neon!© of New Zealand had entered upon a scheme of linirer«nX mllporv training. Tfiev had come fo tho conclusion that it was ♦h* dntv of *»yery man not only fo bo wfllirm- t A defend Ins con n try—every New Zealander, every Britisher wouM bo willing to do that—bnt to be prepared anu eopip-nsd for the of his country.-So it had been decided that the voung men of.the rnnntrv should go through a course of miMtnrv training. In conc.ln«ion bo ■ovr.rcss-'d the *hat the veterans—tho oHnet of them -might ret c«*nv niauv rears of har—life, that the Veterans’ Assoomtfon would po -on and nrosner. and a raiirincr point for tho?© who had taken part in the dofeno© of our country. Mr R. Tinp-cx*. vice-president of the association, responded. Cantata Fdwm proposed, the toast of the New - The Hon. Georere Fow’ds, reavionding. onfd that the Government. did pot. trr to‘n|ense ! everybody. It wo”hl iw h G m"<*h of a , Government if it did. What. it aonHit to do was to try con«o’ent* A pslv to do the laM tho P eor,l ° of New, 7-ca-C * llkc / anfl Lube also Tv.© other ’ toasts honoured wore "The NeHy©- n-wie pronopcd by tbo r»^ v ’ tv a. °Tb A nr n^or aT) rf G’tv of WV’Jno-ton. end tbo» proposod hr Veteran G. Pn*-d”. Ronys ,< >'n*rd bv Mr P. r’e^n*'!] K Z, Tf ‘h’S , .e>v and a'recitation bv i .Mr Sidney Tfnvoy.