SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19622, 28 October 1925, Page 11

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

The Rev. D. Dutton presided at the monthly meeting of the executive of the Dunedin branch of ' the South African Veterans’ Association. The Dominion secretary (Mr I. 11. E. Filling) reported that as an outcome of the recent conference of branches in Wellington the Dominion executive requested all branches to see that the following questions were put to all candidates at the coming general election:—(a) Are you in favour of the South African veterans receiving a military pension by right; the same as the Maori War veterans? (b) Are yon in favour of the South African veterans receiving the full benefits of the D.S.S. Acts?—lt was decided to limit the questions to bo asked candidates in Otago to the former question only The Dominion secretary reported the institution of “The Veteran,” the official publication of the South African Veterans’ Association. Major-general Sir Alfred Robin (delegate of the Dunedin centre at the Dominion Conference) gave a full and interesting account of the iponference which he considered very successful The conference decided to takl* no action at present in regard to the establishment of a veterans' home. The. Department of Internal Affairs had undertaken to inquire into the state of the New Zealand graves in South Africa. Therefore a society called the “Loyal Women of South Africa” had been devoting its attention to this matter. In New Zealand the War Graves Division of the Internal Affaire Department treated the graves of South African veterans in New Zealand similarly to the graves of Now Zealand soldiers who were engaged in the Great War—i.c., where death was due to war service the department took full care, and where death was not due to war service care was taken only where the relatives were in indigent circumstances. The Dominion executive was instructed to take up the matter of affiliation with the R.SA., who would be invited to say exactly what was suggested. It was to be made clear that South African veterans must not loose their identity. The matter would come up at the next conference. In the meantime no powers were granted to enter into any agreement, A resolution was passed that all South African Association members purchase New Zealand made and produced goods, or if not, to purchase produce artd goods of the Empire in preference to those of any other country.