SOUTH AFRICAN WAR

Southland Times, Issue 21197, 25 September 1930, Page 7

SOUTH AFRICAN WAR

ANNUAL. CONFERENCE OF VETERANS. ALTERATION OF PENSION AGE. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, September 24. The annual conference of South African Veterans was opened to-day by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe). Referring to the question of rehabilitation the Minister said that in his opinion the report of the commission was a most valuable one. The association’s report stated that nothing had been done this session. He did not wish to be too definite, but there might be some grounds for modification of that statement before long. With regard to the recent urging that South African pensions should be granted before the age of 65 years if disability occurred before that age, he said that he had gone into that matter and under existing conditions it would be hardly possible just at present. It would mean the addition of eight men to the pensions scheme and an advance in cost of £3,500 and more later on. There was a danger that alteration of the pension age from 65 years to 60 would form an attractive election cry and its effects would go further. The chairman (Captain J. J. Clark) thanked the Minister who had given them hope that something might be done along the lines of rehabilitation, but it was a fact that so far South African veterans were not dealt with on the same rehabilitation lines as those of the Great War. The association valued the help given by the Government. OFFICIAL HISTORY NEW ZEALAND FORCES. COMPLETION EXPECTED SHORTLY. Wellington, September 24 The official history of the New Zealand Forces at the South African War is at present being written and before long should be completed, according to a statement made by the president of the South African War Veterans’ Association (Captain J. J. Clark) to-day. “After the conference last year we interviewed the Minister of Defence (Sir Thomas Wilford) in reference to the compilation of an official history of the war and he promised that the sum of £250 be made available for this purpose,” said Captain Clark. “Sir Thomas nominated a committee consisting of the General Officer Commanding (Major-General R. Aoung), Major P. de B. Brandon and myself to have the work carried out and after consultation we commissioned Mr J. A. Shand, official correspondent to the First Contingent, to compile the history. The greater portion of the work has been written and corrected, but it is unfortunate that Captain Shand, owing to his having taken up an appointment, has not yet been able to complete the work.”