VETERANS' RE-UNION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2598, 21 October 1915, Page 3

VETERANS' RE-UNION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE ' PENSIONS QUESTION DISCUSSED

The Now Zealand Veterans' Association held their' annual conference in No. 1 Committee Room of the Town Hall yesterday. Lieut. X. Humphries presided, and there were also present: .Veterans S. Stidolph . (.Hawera), H. Arden (Taranaki), R-. Tingey, and G. B. Purdio (Wellington), D. F. Davidson (Manawatu), J. E. Capper (Dunedin), Major H. A. Loman (\Vanganui), and Major J. Chicke (Napier and Gisborne). Colonel Porter, C.8., wrote apologising for absence. .Tho annual report referred to the death of. the late Field-Marshal Earl Roberts, V.C., a life vice-president of the association. Further, it was urged that an endeavour should be made to have certain anomalies in tho law relating to Maori War veterans amended. In this connection it was pointed out thut sliould a veteran leave New Zealand for a- holiday • or on businoss, mid did not return in time to receive his month's pension, lio was debarred from drawing it for the period of his temporary absence: Further, if a veteran died prior tovthe next customary date of payment of pension, no payment could be made to liis relatives, except in special cases, and then only with the Minister's consent. A veteran in receipt of a pension was also debarred from receiving an old age penA proposal was made by the .Wellington Branch that the veterans should offer themselves as a unit of tho National Reserve. In his opening address, the chairman said that the annual conferences had a very good > ffect in linking up tho various branches. Whon they mot last year the war had just commenced, and lie was sura they were all proud of the part taken by New Zealand in tho great struggle, and proud of the actions of tho mon who had gone from here. As old soldiers their sympathies naturally' went out to those who had fought gallantly, -and to those who had been bereaved. The delegates stood in silence for a moment as a. tribute to the fallen. ' The animal report. and balance-sheet were then adopted. The financial position of the association' was shown as satisfactory. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Veteran R. Tingey;, . lion, secretary, Veteran S. Stidolpli (reelected) ; committee, the chairman and Lieut-. Humphries; auditor, Veteran 11/ Tingey (re-elected). Some discussion took place on the question of granting the Maori War Medal to all those who enrolled during the Maori War, and the conference .was strongly of opinion that the present system of granting the medal only to those who had been under fire should be adhered to. It was decided not to continue the disoussion. Lieut. Humphries spoke on the subject of the veterans' relations with the National Reserve, and pointed out that, the question had arisen, in the Wellington Branch. He said that while many of the veterans would not be" able to engage in the harder work of the Reserve, it would be quite possible for them to do other work more fitted to their physical capacity. The idea was that- those veterans who were not fit for the drill and the harder work should constitute <a separate. unit of the Reeerve. Veteran Walton informed the conference that any man .who could not go in for tho drill could join- the Reserve as ian houorarv member, so that- his services might be given in another direction;: A SOCIAL EVENINC[TRIBUTES TO YOUNGER, GENERA- ; TION. ' • In. the evening over twenty veterans gathered at Godber's rooms, Cuba Street, when' a' very pleasant social gathering was held. Captain Humphreys (Wellington) presided, and after the toast of "The King" had been honoured ho welcomed the delegates. At the same time he regretted that more of the outside visitors were not able to be present. Veteran'J. Bland proposed the toast of "Our Boys at the Front." There was not a veteran, ho said, who was not proud of the manner in which New Zealand was being represented at the Dardanelles. They had read with pleasure of the deeds of the New Zealanders, who had been able to hold their own with the best trained troops of England. Most of the veterans, he continued, wero represented at the front, ond their secretary's son had been promoted to the position of sergeant-major. (Applause ) He said that in the hands of the Minister of Defence (the Hon. 'J. Allen) and the (Minister of Munitions . (tho Hon. A. M. Myers) their troops

were being looked after in the best possible way; with confidence they could leave their sons in the care of those gentlemen. Veteran C. F. Fox paid a' tribute to tho Mjiori troops, who wore so ably assisting the European troops. He hoped they would think as much of those as of our own boys. (Applause.) Veteran D. C. Bates responded on behalf of tho boys at the front, and said that he was sure all present would welcome an opportunity to serve again. Not only the men of New Zealand, but the women, lie said, wore anxious to do their part. He made.brief refcrenco to the Maoris, our old-time foes, who were now fighting with us. It was the wickedness of mankind that forced war upon lis, but it was the duty of everyone to stand up to tho last for all that was best. We wera fighting for justice, in the hope that peace would ensue for all time. Many clergy had gone into, the ranks feeling that our cause was righteous. . Our men at the front- were showing that they were not inferior to their fathers. Those who came back from the Dardanelles were men to be honoured for the risks they had taken; they had shown themselves willing and able to do what their fathers had done before them. (Applause.) ■ During the evening numerous musical items were given, and for the most part tho evening was devoted to social intercourse.