The Veterane’ Home.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XXV, 21 June 1902, Page 1289

The Veterane ’ Home.

INTERVIEW WITH LORD RANFURLY. * DETAILS OF THE SCHEME. ’ (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) The proposal which His Excellency the Governor has recently made regarding the establishment of a Veterans' Home in the colony as a memorial to those New Zealanders who have fallen in the Boer War is now being discussed by the press and the public. Several criticisms of the scheme, practically all of them favourable to it, have appeared in the press. There are, however, some points upon which a little further information may be welcome, and with a view to an elucidation of these I called yesterday at Government House, where - Lord Ranfurly very courteously accorded me a personal interview.

First of all, there was the question that has been mooted as to whether there should not be two veterans’ homes, one in the North and one in the South Island. “My answer to that, - ’ said His Excellency. “is that you must walk before you can run. The first thing to be done is to get one home in successful working order. Sueh a home should be capable of accommodating forty people. With any number less than that you cannot have economical working, for an establishment for ten would cost practically as much to maintain in the way of attendance, ete.. as would a home for forty. Of course, if the movement takes on,” he added, “I shall be only too pleased to see two homes established, especially as I think New Zealand will always have a sufficient number of applicants to fill two such homes. The first home to be established should, however, certainly be either in the Auckland or the Taranaki provincial district. These provinces at the present moment contain about two-thirds of the Imperial and colonial veterans in the whole colony. Of the two thousand names I have already on my list, only two hundred are from the South Island. Then, again, you must remember that it was in the two Northern provinces that these old soldiers fought and bled for the protection of the British and the extension of the bounds of the Empire. Moreover, there is the question of the suitability of climate to be considered, and the rigour of the South, while it may breed a hardy race of colonists, is not so suitable as is the milder Northern climate to the health of feeble and invalid soldiers, many of whom are already octogenarians.”

In reply to a question as to the future up-keep of sueh an institution. Lord Ranfurly said: “My view is this: Given the establishment of a suitable building, provision for attendance and food would be financially a minor matter. Indeed, many of the veterans would be able to p’rovide for their own food, as many of them have either old age pensions or Imperial Army pensions. At the same time there are necessitous cases, in which the veterans have no pensions. It is. however, for the people of New Zealand to say whether they approve of the scheme, and whether they will give practical aid in carrying it to a successful issue. I should not feel justified in seeking assistance from the Mother Country unless I were assured that the sympathies of the colony were entirely with the movement. To effect its successful accomplishment I should say the best method would be for either individuals or districts to subscribe sufficient to endow one or more beds in the memorial home.” Summed up, I gathered that so far as the Governor is concerned, the position is that he does not want to force an institution on an unwilling country. He himself is, however, fully convinced that such an institution is desirable — is. indeed, urgently needed, and certainly there is no one in the colony who knows more, or even half as much, about our veteran soldiers and sailors than does Lord Ranfurly. For some weeks past he has been personally compiling n roll of their names for the whole colony, a work involving a large correspondence, and a very considerable expenditure of time. In the event of the successful establishment of the proposed Home, such a roll must prove a very valuable record. In the meantime, however, as I have stated, until the colony signifies its approval. His

Excellency does not see his way to seek assistance in England, further than the application ho has already addressed to the Soldiers' and Sailors* Help Society. I think, however, I may lie justified in saying that he has made out a case sueh as will warrant the granting of substantial assistance if the project is taken up with any degree of spirit by the colonists themselves. The society referred to is one that must command the respect of the Empire. To give some idea of its composition I may mention that the King himself is its patron, and that amongst the other patrons are H.R.H. the Prinee of Wales, General H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. K.G., and Field-Mar-shal H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, K.G. On the council are H.R.H. the Princess Christian of Schleswig-Hols eln (as president), H.R.H. Princess Henry of Battenburg, and H.R.H. the Duchess of Connaught (as vice-presidents*.