SOUTH AFRICAN WAR VETERANS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19239, 1 August 1924, Page 8

SOUTH AFRICAN WAR VETERANS.

. REQUEST FOR PENSIONS. DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER. ;v (Peb United Pircaa Association.) WELLINGTON , July 31. . Mr J. A. Simpson, president of tho Conference of the South African War Veterans’ Association, has been appointed a deputation to interview tho Prime Minister on Various matters affecting the association including th.o procla.m£ition of tho Replication of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Aot to South African War veterans, so that they may secure tho same benefits enjoyed by men returned from the Great War. ... •Mr Simpson was re-elected president; Major E. G. Fraser (Auckland), Captain J, J. Clark (Wellington), and Dr A. Falconer (Dunedin) were elected vice-presi-dents; and the following form the executive:—The Revs. D. 0. Bates and A. W. H Compton, Messrs J. J. Clark, p. M Intyre,' T. Fletcher, and W. Tilling, the lastnamed being secretary. Subsequently a deputation from the assentation made representations to tho Prime Minister for pensions for those who served in thp Boer War campaign, and asked that nil tho benefits of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act should bo extended to them. ■Mr. J. A. Simson (dominion president) reminded the Prime Minister of tho promise be made to them three years ago in regard to pensions. Financial circumstances had altered considerably since 1921, when there was no money available. Most of them were 50 years of ago, and if the principle of tho pension was_ not approved this year they would continue to make representations until it was. They also desired to come under tho benefits of tho Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act. Mr Massey; Yon mean pensions and all other benefits? Mr Simeon said that the votorang felt that they were entitled to all the benefits•Mr Massey stated, in reply, that he was not able to do all that was asked by the deputation Tho country was pretty well off, but tho surplus would not meet onotwontieth part of the claims that were being made. That was his trouble. “All I oan do,” he said, “is to do the best in the circumstances. I hope to be able to do something for the South African veterans. I want to do something this year—(“Hear, heari)—oven if its coming into operation is postponed for a little lime.” Mr Maesey referred to the present responsibilties of the Government in regard to pensions. It had to find for this year £2,405,221 for all pensions and £374,000 for superannuation requirements.