BUSY TIMES AHEAD

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 136, 5 December 1929, Page 20

BUSY TIMES AHEAD

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

Tho increased interest that was being taken in tho activities of '.ho South African, War Veterans' Association was referred to with gratification I by.the Dominiou president (Captain J. J. Clark) at. the last meeting of tho Dominion Executive. There wero present Major P; do B. Brandon (Domin- j ion vice-president), Messrs. J. I. Gold-smith,-C. J. Wilson, J. A. Shand, and J. T. Tilling (Dominion secretary). | Before tho formal business commenced, the chairman said ho was pleased to note that increased interest was being taken in the proceedings of the executive. . The Commission wliich had been set up by the Government to go\ into the important matters of pensions to and employment of soMiers, and various economic questions, had had brought before it statements ana recommendations which brought South African veterans within tho scope of its operations, and its proceeds were being watched with interest. There wore busy times ahead, and considerable time would have to bo devoted to assisting in the elucidation of • tho problems which presented themselves. VETERANS' HOMES. In connection 'with'the evidence to be tendered to the'"Commission which was now taking evidence throughout the Dominion, it was stated that Dunediu and. Auckland were advocating the establishment .of..veterans' homes, while, the Dominion delegates had turned down these proposals at the recent conference. While the' local associations- had a perfect right to advocate what they believed to be the best course in the interests of veterans, it was tho duty of the executive to advocate before the Commission the considered- opinions of 'the "Dominion eon fcrence. Otherwise districts represented at the cpnferenco but not visited by the Commission might bo treated unfairly. In addition tho president could give his own personal views to the Commission as to what he considered^ the best measures to be adopted, while the 'vice-president of the Dominion Association (Major Brandon), who was also president of the Wellington branch, could present tho Dominion view agreed to at the conference, and eonld also,give the Wellington Association ?s views', and his' own personal opinions,' if he' chose. , .. ■ It' was. stated that very satisfactory reports', were coming to hand as to; the progress mafle ■ by" the various branches of the association in the Dominion, and the opinion 'was expressed- that at no time since the South African War had such activity and interest in the affairs of the South African veterans been shown.