VETERANS' REUNION

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1262, 18 October 1911, Page 9

VETERANS' REUNION

PENSION QUESTION. CONTINGENTERS AND RAIL PASSES. Tho annual conference of members of tho Royal A'ow Zealand Association of His Majesty's Veterans was held at the Town Hall yesterday, Colonel Stewart Newall, C.8., presiding. The following dolegates were also present:—Vice-presi-dents, R. Tingey, W. F. Kcvall, and Captain E. Trcgear (Wellington), Major Lomax (Wanganui), Messrs. J. Capper ami H. Walton (Alasterton), SergeantMajor J. Robinson, and Mr. S. Stiddolph (llanawatu); Captain It. C. lliuiierton and Mr. T. Humphries (Taranaki).

Tho annual report stated that, sinco last meeting, the following members had passed away:—Hon. W. C. Smith, T. Urwin (vice-president of tho Wellington branch), Captain C. W. Hursthouse, and Mr. R. A. lidwin. A Manawatu branch bad been formed at Palmerston North, branches of the association now existed in Wellinjfton, J)uncdin, Wanganui, Masterten, Gisborne, ilanawatu, and Taranaki. Petitions in favour of granting a military pension of 10s. per week to all New Zealand veterans of the Maori War had besn presented to Parliament. In connection with this, nnd in reply to Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., tho • Primo Minister had stated that the petitions would come l>efere the Cabinet in the ordinary way, and would be dealt with in the Supplementary jistimates. Tho claims for grants of land, upon which the stipendiary magistrates had reported, wouldalso be considered. Whether the Government could go further, it was impossible for him to say. His Majesty King George V had graciously bestowed his patronage on the association by becoming patron in Jilaee of his late father, King Edward VII. His Excellency Lord Islington had inspected the Wellington Veterans on Coronation and Dominion Days. A communication was received from tho Railway Department stating that, during the term of Lord Ranfurly as Governor of New Zealand arrangements had been made whereby veterans should bo granted freo transit on the railways when attending local military celebrations. When the arrangement was made, it had been intended that the concession should apply only to such veterans as wero residents of New Zealand, and who had taken part in such wars as the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny, and had served in tho Imperial, naval, or colonial forces, or who had taken an active part in ono or other of the Maori Wars in New Zealand prior to January 1, IS7O. In connection with the recent Coronation celebrations, however, it had been observed that the number of passes issued to veterans had increased to a considerable extent, and, on investigation, it had been found that the list o( veterans then included volnntsors who had served in the South African War, and who had received medals. It would bo recognised that most of thoso members of the association who had served in the Sonth African War had not yet reached the time of life when they conld, in the ordinary sense, claim to be classed as veterans, and, in mo«t cases, _ their circumstances were not such as to justify their being given preferential treatment in the matter of transport to centres at which military celebrations were being held. Under these circumstances it had been decided that, in future, befoTe such freo passes were issued to veterans, tho secretary of tho association in whoso district such veterans resided shonld bs required to furnish a certificate to tho effect that such men had feen active ?ervico in engagements which have taken place prior to 1870. The chairman stated that the Railway Department were qnito right in pointing ont this matter. Tho attitude taken up by the Department was just and reasonable, And. on his motion, it was decided that the letter be received. On the motion of Sergcant-Major_ Robinson, Major Lomax, of Wanganui, was elected chairman, in place of Colonel Stewart Newall, who is leaving for South America on Thurs'day. Captain Tregear'and Veteran H. Walton were reappointed to tho Standing Committee.