SOUTH AFRICAN WAR VETERANS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 66

SOUTH AFRICAN WAR VETERANS.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the local branch of the South African War Veterans’ Association was held in the Otago Officers' Club rooms on Wednesday night. The president (the Rev. D. Dutton) occupied the chair. The annual report stated, inter alia: — The annual reunion of all contingents was held on Juno 3, 1924, in tho Otago Officers’ Ciub room, when the late Prime Minister and other prominent persons were present. There was an attendance of 90 members and guests. The Prime Minister gave a very interesting and appropriate address, emphasising the effect of the Boer War in welding the British Empire together. The kindly reference to the South African contingents’ work was much appreciated. The Hon. W. D. Stewart had referred to the value of work done also in the Maori War, and stressed the value of such associations fostering the patriotic spirit. Twenty-four South African veterans paraded as a unit with the Returned Soldiers’ Association on the occasion of Anzao Day, attending the memorial service in the exhibition buildings, and a wreath from the association was placed on the Cenotaph. The Dominion Conference, held at Wellington, in July, was attended by the secretary, one of the three speakers of the deputation regarding the war pension. After the conference legislation was passed bv Parliament giving to all South African veteran* who became entitled to the oldage pension an additional £l3 per annum, making the total £52 per year. That also covered nurses who had served during the South African War, provided they were officially attached lo the New Zealand contingent. Capitation was paid to headquarters last year for 60 members, but this year it would be forwarded for 93. The credit balance was £8 83 lid. The Chairman expressed his pleasure at seeing so many members present, and remarked that the association’s affairs were flourishing. The association had been fortunate in having Dr Falconer in Wellington when a deputation called on Mr Massey nnd other Ministers re the matter of a war pension. As introduced for the Maori War veterans it was regarded as necessary, but the pension wag given only lo African veterans who through stress of circumstances needed the old-age pension, ne felt that the principle was wrong, and that if a pension was given at all it should be for war service. As it was, there was discrimination against veterans of South Africa. The endeavour to bring in conditions for soldiers of the late war entitled to pensions . had been quashed, and the only ones to have conditions placed upon them were themselves. The Chairman moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet, and tho motion was carried unanimously. Ihe dominion executive’s half-yearly report was also adopted. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows:—President, the Rev. D Dutton; vice-president, Dr E. J. O’Neill; secretary, Dr A. R. Falconer; committee—Messrs A. Duncan, W. Dobson, G. Waldie, B. Ellis, E. C. Hazlett, PI. D. Tennant, and’ J. C. Rigby; hon. auditor, Mr F. C. Evans. A suggestion made to the ingoing committee was that the monument at the Oval should be thrown into relief at night during the Exhibition period, and on special occasions, by a spotlight. In connection with remits for the Dominion Conference proposed for June 9, it was decided to forward to the representative of the local body a remit to the effect that he should strongly object to the pension of £l3 for South African veterans being given under the existing conditions, in view’ of the good conditions under which soldiers of tho recent war and the Maori War were pensioned. It was decided to hold a Yereeniging Peace Sunday function on June 7 at the Oval and to invite British service veterans, including old volunteers.