SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 9

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS.

MR F. J. BOLLESTON’S TRIBUTE. WELLINGTON, August 29. At the annual conference of the South African Veterans’ Association, held today, the Minister of Defence (Mr F. J. Rolleston) addressed the gathering. He said there could be no doubt that the action taken by those who volunteered in 1899 blazed the trail for the much greater part that New Zealand was to take in 1914. Whatever requests the conference made would receive the respectful consideration of the Government. Those who served in Sou.th Africa were, just as much deserving of the sympathy and the help of the Government as those who had served in the Great War, - CONFERENCE REMITS. WELLINGTON, August 30. The South African Veterans’ Conference passed the following remits:— That the Government be urged to grant South African veterans a war pension at 65 years,- or on disability, if such occurs before reaching that age. That the Government be asked to reopen the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act for the benefit of South African veterans, and, failing this, that a sum of money be set aside to be administered under the Advances to Workers and .Settlers Act for the benefit of South African veterans on the saine conditions as those of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. That the Minister of Finance (Mr Downie Stewart) be asked to get legislation enacted to get a sum of money from the War Funds Council.

The fiftieth anniversary of the arrival at Auckland of the sailing ship May Queen is to be celebrated by the surviving passengers on October 19. A committee has been formed to organise functions. A reunion will be held on the afternoon of October 19 and if is expected that 30 or 40 of the passengers will be able to .