PLEASANT REUNION

Chronicle (Levin), 13 May 1947, Page 4

PLEASANT REUNION

South African Veterans Hold Annual Function On October -10, 1899, war was declared in South Africa and it lasted until May 31, 1902. For those who served,, almost half a dentury has perhaps dimpied events on the. veldt during' that period, and they are now but a memory,.* There has, however, been no ; ioss: of warmth in the bomradeships formed by 'the • mefi who were the first to leave their homes to serve New Zealand and the Empire on a foreign shore. On the other hand time has mellowed those friendships and wlierever they gather there is a cordial camaraderie. On Saturday night Levin's veterans of this War asseihbled in Williams' , ReeeptiOn Rbbm. ' Ihe occasion was the annual reunion of 1 the Levin South Africail Veterans' Association, and it was a happy function for all who were present. The attendance numbered 130, and it is thought to be the largest throughout the years that the reunion has been held, There was a full muster of veterans of this district and a party of ftearly 40 from the Wellington Association, while in addition there was strong representation from Wanganui, Palmerston North, Pahiatua, Hutt Valley and Hastings. The association's genial president, Mr. E. Hogg, was in the chair and associated with him Were the Dominion president Of the South African Veterans' Association (Mr. H. W. Baird) , the Mayor (Mr. H. B. Burdekin), the president of the Wellington Association (Mr, J. I. Goldsmith) , the president Of the Palmerston North Association (Mr. R. A. Metcalf), the treasurer of the Wellington Associatiofi" (Major * Wood), the president of the Levin R.S.A. (Mr. H. J. Lancaster), Drs. L. J. Hunter and S. J. Thompson, Mr. J. J. Maher, M.P., and the vice-presi-dent of the Levin Association, Mf. F. E. Parker. At the outset Mr. Kbgg extended a cordial welcome to the visitors and guests, specially mentioning the Dominion president (Mr. Baird) . He voiced gratificatio'ii at the large attendance, sayirtg that it was possibly the largest yet at a similar function in Levin and seemed to give truth to the saying that "old soldiers never die." The proceedings opened with the loyal toast and the singing of the National Anthem. It was fol-

lowed by the toast of "Fallen Comrades," honoured in solemn silence broken only by the notes Qf the "Last Post," sotirided by Mf. J. King, of Wellington. The next toast was "Levin and District," which was in the capable hands of Dr, Thompson. He said that in any toWn the people Iived • there for preference and because it was pleasant to dd so. That was the case with the people of Levin and district. They were proud of their toWn and district. He hoped the visitors would go away with that feeling, and they would be helped in it by the hospitality they had received. Responding, the Mayor (Mr. Burdekin) Said the gathering Was one df the firiest ever held in Levin. There was no doubt that Levin was the most progressive town in the Dominion and in support of this it was interesting to note that its building work was ahead of any other town per head of population. His Worship expfessfed oleasure at seeing so many visitors to the town and welcomed them to it. ' "The Visitors" was proposed by Mr. R. W. Evans, who. said the gathering was one of the largest in the history of the local association. The Levin members wCre exceedingly pleased to welcome so many visitors, particularly the Dominion president . (Mr. Baird) . He hoped all would carry aWay With them pleasant men.ories of the function'. In reply, the president .bf the Palmerston North Association (Mr. Metcalf) said the large attendance of visitors was entirely the result of the comrade:hip which existed. among South African Veterans. It was a eomradeship which money could not fcuy. As the years passed, strange as it might seem, the association's members,hip had grown, and he felt it iyas" due to the happy reirnions that more veterans had joified. "As we grow older we grow closer together," said the Dominion president (Mr, Baird), prdnosing the toast of "Hie R.S.A/' Thoughout the years the R.S.A. had taken in the South African veteran and fought his battles coo. The R.S.A. was a wonderful body and its work for- the serviceman had been outstanding; He regretted the retirement of the R.S.A.'s Dominion president, Mr. B. J. Jacobs, who had very wdrthily filled the ofiice. Replyihg. the president of the Levin- R.s,A, (Mr. Lancaster) said the R.S.A. was proud. to have been. able~ to foster, the SOuth African Veterans' ^ssoeiatiofi. He . recalied that many of those who had iatef .served in World War 1 had, as schodlboys, thriiied to the gxpidits of the South African veterans. The toast of "Gtif British Cora^ monwealth" was proposed by Dr. Hunter, who . said that all knew Lhe history of the family, and how each colony was founded, settled, "rained in self government 'and given Dominion status. H§ felt the aims of the British Cbhiihonwealth could be summed up in the bne word trusteeship, • which

onbodied all that had taken plade over the years and what the world was striving for at preseht. "We are all proud of John Bull and the iead he is giving to the World," remarked the speaker-'in conclusibn. Other toasts honoured were "The Army, Navy and Air Force," proposed by Mr. L. T. Herbert and responded to by Major Wood; ;The Dominion President of the S.A.V.A.," Mr. .Goldsmith — Mr. Baird; "The NeW Zealand Parliament," Mr. E. Taylor — Mr. Maher; - and "The Artists, Gaterer, Press ahd Police," Mr. Hogg.During the evening selectidhs V/erfe played by an orchestra comprising Messrs. H. L. Jenkins, J. W. Hayfield, G. R. Lester, M. cH. Boyce, W. Strode-Pehny, A. C. Kcnnerley and L. R. Spencer. Items were given by Messrs. G. R. Lester (corhet solo) . F. E. Parker irecitation) , W. Duguid (song) , J. W. Hayfieid (violin solo) and M. H, Boyce (clarinet solo) .