SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25852, 24 May 1945, Page 9

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

ANNUAL MEETING OF OTAGO ASSOCIATION

The twenty-second annual meeting of the Otago branch of the South African War Veterans’ Association was held last night. The president, Mr A. Duncan, was in the chair, and there was an attendance of 30 members.

In moving the adoption of the annual report, the president referred to the marked increase in membership, which had risen from 79 in 1943 to 95 in 1944-45. He asked his hearers to remember that it was in• September. 1899, that the Premier, Mr R. J. Seddon, had requested the services of 250 men for duty in South Africa. That was the nucleus of the thousands who subsequently offered their services. The annual report and balance sheet were adopted. Election of Office-bearers

The election of office-bearers resulted as follows:—President, Mr A. Duncan; vice-presidents—Messrs Edgar Hazlett. W. Dobson, T. Moreton, L. R. Ellis, J. Sutherland, G. Waldie, J. T. Thorn, J. C. Rigby, J. McCracken, and Dr A. R. Falconer; committee—Messrs J. Culling, J. Seelye, G. Aitken, C. Cornish, R. M. Meffen, J. Cairney, J. McCracken, R. McGregor, H. Potter, C. Todd, J. Watson, A. Jardine, F. Stone, J. C. Rigby, D. A. Munro, and G. Maskew; honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr W. Dobson; honorary auditor, Mr W. Dunne. Mr Duncan was elected to represent the association on the Disabled Soldiers’ Re-establishment League for a term of three years. Representation on R.S.A. The fact that the South African veterans did not have representation on the executives of the R.S.A. in the main centres was mentioned by Dr Falconer. The South African contingent had comprised the first expeditionary force, he said, and, although they had a lot to learn, they also had a lot to teach. He thought the interests of the veterans should be safeguarded by representation on the R.S.A. executives. He therefore moved that it be a recommendation to the Dominion Executive of the South African Veterans’ Association that an endeavour should be made to have a representative of the association in each of the main centres on the R.S.A. executives in those centres. The motion, which was seconded by Mr Hazlett, was carried. It was further decided that a deputation, consisting of the president, Dr Falconer, and Mr Hazlett, should wait upon the Dunedin R.S.A. to ask for its assistance in putting the recommendation into effect. Request to Government It was decided to forward the following motion, which was moved by Mr H J. Quarterman, to the Dominion Executive:—“ That the Government be requested to alter the War Veterans’ Act to allow a South African veteran to claim a special grant of £l3, provided the veteran and his wife are over the age of 60.”