SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

Evening Star, Issue 19793, 17 February 1928, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

EXECUTIVE MEETING At a meeting of the executive of the Dunedin branch of the South African Veterans’ Association Mr G. Waldie presided. The secretary reported that the balance of the relief fund (disabled veterans) stood at £33 7s 2d. Members thought this amount quite inadequate for the purpose in view—viz., placing distressed South African veterans on the same footing as necessitous soldiers of the Great War, for whom moneys are available from the Patriotic and General Welfare Association. In reference to this subject it was reported that the annual meeting had carried the following motion :—“ That, as there is a number ol men who served in the South African War in necessitous circumstances, the Government be requested to place a sum at the disposal of the various patriotic associations to bo administered by them for the benefit of such of these men as may require assistance.” It was decided to forward this motion as a remit to the next general conference in Wellington. A suggestion was made that if the sum of £SOO were raised by means of a flag day at each of the four centres the Government could fairly be expected to give an equal amount in subsidy, which would make a total of £4,000 for New Zealand—a sum sufficient to initiate the fund in the meantime.

The date May 16 was tentatively fixed for the annual meeting, at which Colonel G. C. W. Macdonald will give a lecture on the training of the South African contingents. Correspondence from headquarters gave the information that where a South African veteran was in receipt of a pension for injuries received in that war he could apply for a supernumerary pension that would bring his pension up to that of a pensioner of the late war. He could further apply for the economic pension, and to have his case considered by the Appeal Board if necessary. It was stated that the Dominion Executive intended to submit the new design of a badge for the association. A distinctive uniform wreath for South African veterans’ funerals is to consist of laurel leaves, with ribbons of the same color as the Queen’s South African War medal ribbon.

The Hon. G. J. Anderson reported that the Government had not had an opportunity of considering his recommendation to increase the South African pension by £l3 per annum, but he would bring the matter up before Cabinet again, Mr Hurst Seager is to be asked to design a special stone for erection ever the grave of comrades who died in South Africa, and those who have passed away since in the dominion. _ An appeal is to be made this year to induce every South African veteran in Otago to identify himself with a local branch. It was noted with satisfaction by members of the committee that, while the Dunedin branch led last year for the dominion in the number of members, this year it was second only to Auckland.