MAORI WAR VETERANS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1927, Page 8

MAORI WAR VETERANS

ENTERTAINMENT BY SIR D. MACLEAN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hastings, Jan. 6. Maori War veterans were entertained by Sir Douglas Mac Lean at their annual social and reunion yesterday. The chairman, Mr. W. Y. Dennett, in proposing Sir Douglas Mac Lean’s health, alluded to his devoted war service in England during the four years of the war as became the worthy son of a ■worthy sire. He had always worked for the Maori War veterans, and he was instrumental in securing for them old-age pensions. No one was more worthy of the honour done him by the King than Sir Douglas. Replying to his health, Sir Douglas Mac Lean said that his only regret was that the late Major Gascoyne had not received from the authorities the New Zealand Cross so well deserved. There was a tendency in New Zealand to forget these pioneers, whose pluck, sacrifice and endurance had laid the foundation of the country’s prosperity. Colonisation in New Zealand was one of the greatest episodes in history, for individual pluck and enterprise, and the memory of the pioneers’ devotion should be kept fresh in the minds of the rising generation to inspire them to live up to the standard set by the enterprise, determination, endurance and sacrifice of their forefathers.