NEW ZEALAND VETERANS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8558, 22 October 1913, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND VETERANS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The annual conference of the Royal New Zealand Association of His Majesty's Veterans was held in the Town Hall yesterday. Major HU A. Lomas (Wanganui) presided, and there were present:—Colonel Porter (Gisborne), Captain S. A. Preece (Palmerston North), Captain Mitchell (Hawera), Lieutenant T. Humphries (Taranaki), and Messrs F. W. Reveil and It. Tingey (Wellington), H. Walton (Masterton), Dugald McKollar (Taranaki;, J. K. Revell (Wanganui), S. Stidolph (Palmerston North), and J. C. Capper (Napier). The annual report stated that the Government had kept its promise and passed the Military Pensions Act granting a pension to all Maori war veterans who possessed medals. This had given general satisfaction. Lord Liverpool had accepted the position of president of the association. It was with regret they had to record the death of the late Captain R. C. Hamerton, who was for many years a representative of the Taranaki branch at the annual meeting. All tha branches were doing well, with th© exception of that at Napier. A large gathering of veterans was to take place at Hawera on November 6th. — Tho report was adopted. A return presented to tho conference showed that there were 365 members in the various branches, 280 of whom were New Zealand war veterans. During tho last twelve months, twenty-two members had died, nineteen being New Zealand war veterans. Colonel Porter pointed out the abuse and fraud that had from time to time been discovered in regard to applications foV war medals. He thought that tho Government should exercise the greatest care in awarding these medals. He moved: —“That the Government halving now liberally extended the military pensions to the I’eterans holding New Zealand war medals, this conference desires to express its gratification on behalf of tho veterans, and, at tho same time, to urge upon the department responsible for the issue of medals the need of more closely examining tho claims so that the privilege now granted be not abused; also that the chairman, Colonel Newall, Captain Preece, and the mover lay the matter before the Minister.”—This was carried. The following officers were elected: —Vice-president, Major H. A. Lomax; secretary and treasurer, Mr S. Stidolph; auditor, Lieutenant Humphries; committee, Messrs F. M, Revell and H. Walton.