N.Z. VETERANS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2911, 25 October 1916, Page 9

N.Z. VETERANS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Tho annual mooting of tho New Zealand Association of His Majesty's Veterans was held at tho Town Hall yesterday. Jlr. R. E. Tingev, president, occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance from other branches, those present being: Mr. It. E. Tingoy (chairman), Liout.-Colonol Porter, C.D. (Napier and Gisborne), Thomas Humphries (New Plymouth), J. Capper and H. Walton (Manawatu), G. B. Pnrdy (Wellington), Major H. Lomax (Wanganui), Sergt.-Major Robinson (substitute for Lieut.-Colonel O. D. Mackintosh), H. Arden (Wellington), and Mr. S. Stidolph (secretary). Tho chairman warmly welcomed' the delegates on belialf of the Wellington branch. In referring to the war, ho said that lie was sure that tho delegates were all pleased at the splendid part tho Now Zealand boys wero taking m the great conflict. (Applause.) I-Io trusted that Britain and her Allies would soon gain a great victory, and bring a lasting and satisfactory peaco to tho world. (Applause.) Tho annual report presented by tho secretary showed that consequent upon a lack of support the Dunedin branch had ceased to exist. Tho death was recorded of an esteemed member and delegate, Mr. D. M'Kellar, late of Wellington, and a number of other members of tho association in dilforenE parts of the Dominion. The nino existing branches of the association continued to do good work for the Veterans-. Hie balanee-slieet, which with tho report was adopted, showed the finances of tho association to be so\ind. Election of Officers. Lieut.-Colonel Porter, C.8., was elected vice-president for the year. Mr. S. Stidolph expressed his_ annual desire to retire from the position of secretary, but after being earnestly pressed to continue id office for another year consented to do so. Mr. T. Bland was elected auditor, and Messrs. R.. E. Tingey, Thomas Humphries, H. Arden, and Major Lomax wero appointed aStanding Committee. A vote of thanks was passed to tho Mayor and tho City Council for the use of tlic room for holding the meeting m. It was decided to attach the members of the defunct Dunedin branch to the Now Zealand Association.

The Commissioner of Pensions supplied the following return relating to war pensions i>aid to veterans of tho Maori war: —Number cf pensioners at present date, 1275; number who have died during the year, 112. Lieut.Colonel Porter said that there should be no complaints from veterans now in view of what tho Prime Minister had done. It should, however, bo made known that many of tho veterans did not receive their pensions until they were 70 years of age. Qualification for Membership. As a recommendation to_ branches of tho association, it was decided, on tho motion of the chairman, seconded! by Mr. T. Humphries, that Clauso A of Rule 6 (dealing with tho qualification for membership) road as follows: —"Tho qualification for membership shall bo deemed to be all members of tho Imperial. Naval, Military, Auxiliary, and Colonial (including South African) Forces, who aro in possession of a war medal." It was also decided to recommond to branches the deletion of Subclause b of Rule G.

Returns of Branches. The return j of tho branches wero as follow: — Cash in hand. Mem- 1 Branches. £s. d. bers. D'ths. Wellington ... 96 16 7 81 3 Hastings 0 13' I 28 — Gisborno — 4' 3 Hawera and County ... 611 1 23 — Hawke's Bay 11 18 7 57 -f Manawatu ... 5 2 1 15 1 New Plymouth 2 6 10 100 18 Wanganui ... 19 19 3 32 2 Masterton ... 010 0 10 — £143 17 6 398 31' The vico-presidents of branches were reported .to bo a.s follow: —Wellington, Mr. G. B. Purdy; Hawke's Bay, Major I J. Chicken; Taranaki, Colonel J. Ellis; Hawera, Mr. W. Wallace; Gisborno, Capt. J. Warren; Wanganui, Major H. A. Lomax; Masterton, Mr. S. Kuigdon; Hastings, Capt. A. W. Barnes; Manawatu, Capt. Preecc, N.Z.C. Pensions and Destitution. Tho chairman said that t-hero was an item on tho order paper referring to Maori war pensions. Ho assumed that this referred to those men who wero practically destitute, having only their war pension (£36 a year) to keep them. Ho thought in such cases something might be done by approaching tho Government. Perhaps they could not have a more opportune time than tho present for prelerring sucli a reasonable request. Major Lomax was of opinion that a deputation ought to wait upon tho Government with the request to add the old age pension to the war pension in cases where old soldiers wero practically destitute. Ho pointed out tiiat many of the old mon had dropped the old age, pension in order to get tho major pension (the war pension), but there was no valid reason why they should not got both—tho £24 as well as the £36. Finally, on the motion of Mr. Tingey, it was decided that a sub-committee, consisting of Lieut.-Colonel Porter, Messrs. T. Humphries, R. E. Tingey, and tho secretary, go into the matter of obtaining further assistance to destitute Maori war pensioners. It was decided to write to the Ministor of Pensions, asking that tho association bo furnished with a complete list of names on tho pensions list. Mr. G. Purdy thought that it was an excellent idea, as they Teally did not know who was who, and frequently some poor fellow died, and they did not know who lie was until after tho | funeral, and' so tho clianco was lost of : paying him a last tributo of respect. Colonel Portor thought that tho idea of keeping a complete register was an excellent one, but ho thought that t-lio secretary should be given soino clerical assistance in tho compilation of tho register. Major Lomax said that, would bo necessary, as there wero over 1200 ' names to list, so there was a good deal ] of work involved.

MAGISTRATE'S COURT 4 ASSAULT ON A CONSTABLE. Mr. L. (J. Rcid, S.M., presided .it tlio Magistrate's Court yesterday. Kong Yon', charged with assaulting Constablo Cox, was lined 55., aud ordered to pay interpreter's fee, 10s. 6d. Kong went to the Mount Cook Polico Station to lay a complaint against another Chinaman for cheating him, but the interpreter lie had with him left before the complaint could bo made. Kong then was unable to make himself understood to the polico officer, and was therefore ordered to leave the room. Eventually lie had to le put out, and on getting into the street he kicked Constable Cox.

Gcorgo Sigglckow appeared on remajid charged with failing to obey a maintenance order, the arrears amounting to £1 10s., and tho expenses £8 Ss. He was ordered to pay the amount forthwith, in default to undergo one month's imprisonment. Jorcmiali Looney, charged with drunkenness, also with damaging a constable's helmet, valued at lis. 6d., was convicted and ordered to make good tho damage. John O'Leary, who -was found helplessly drunk in Masterton on October 13, was remarided to appear there at noon to-day. For insobriety, two first offendors were convicted and discharged._ The case against Gershoum Simmons, charged with assaulting two seamen on board the Kaikoura on. October 14, so as to cause them actual bodily harm, was further adjourned to November 1, and tho cases against Michael Crowley, charged with a breach of_ the war regulations in habitually living with a prostitute, and John Laidlaw Walling, charged with using obscene language, were both adjourned to Friday. CIVIL CASES. Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., judgment by default was given for plaintiff in the following undefended civil cases: —J. T. Lewis v. K. J. Higbdon, £4 45., costs 10s.; Richard Dwyer v. Leonard H. J. Cattley, £5 25., costs £1 3s-. 6d.; Turnbull and Jonos, Ltd., v. Ralph Heald, £15 3s. 3d., costs £1 13s. Gd.; Stanton and Evans v. 0. V. Grant, £3 ss. 3d., costs lis.; John E. Fitzgerald v. George Tullock, £26'lis., costs £1 35.; J. B. Clarkson and Co., Ltd., v. Edward; Carlton Gibbs, £28 is. Id., costs £1 35.; William Laurence v. Ellen Johnston (separate estate), £8, and possession of certain articles, costs £1 ss. 6d.