THE VETERANS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 15, 18 June 1913, Page 4

THE VETERANS.

SOCIAL TO HAWERA COMRADES. It was fitting that the Veterans should play an important part in the welcome to the battleship New Zealand, and, from the number who assembled on the Breakwater yesterday morning, it was evident that the men who had seen the Niger and the other small ships of war which lay in the bay fifty odd years ago, were not going to miss the sight of the great ship that represented half-a-century's progress in naval warfare. In the evening, over a hundred veterans assembled in the Foresters' Hall, when a social was held, over which Colonel Ellis presided. Veterans were present from all over the province, and especially from the Hawera district, in the honour of whose representatives the social was held. As one- speaker remarked during the evening, there were no "scrubbers" amongst them—all were hardy veterans, though one, wko lost a leg at' Pipiriki, came on wheels. AEMY AND NAVY. The Rev. Mr. Evans proposed the toast of the "Army and Navy," in a characteristic speech, well punctuated with humorous anecdote. In New Zealand, he said, the veterans knew how the navy had supplemented the army in the early days, and in South Africa they recognised how the navy had played an important part, averting a disaster at Ladysmith. Just lately, the Sduth Pole had provided another stirring example of the union of the Army and Navy. They all remembered the gallant Captain Scott, and they had heard of , that brave man—he was going to say "stHl braver" man—Captain Oates, of the Dragoons. That day, he went on to say, they had all felt a thrill of pride at the sight of the New Zealand, one of the finest ships in His Majesty's Navy. (Applause.) What had taken place in the past, he felt sure, would occur in the future, and if the time ever came (which God forbid) when the great arm of the Arniv should strike ife blow, then it would be supplemented by the great shells of the Navy. (Applause.) Captain Mills responded. In the course of his speech, he said that the local branch of the Navy League had not "chipped in" on the occasion of the visit of the Dreadnought, because it had been recognised that its stay in New Plymouth was too short for many speeches and functions. Corporal Adlam, a member of the famous 43rd Regiment, also responded, and his references to a regiment which did such distinguished work in the Peninsula j War, in the Indian Mutiny, and in the ! Maori War, were listened to with interest. "PARLIAMENT." "The Parliament of New Zealand" was proposed by His Worship the Mayor (Mr. G. W. Browne), who referred to the days of Provincial Government. Were that form of Government a power at the present day, he said, he did not think that the veterans would liave been treated as they had been by Parliament. The pension to veterans would not have been mixed with the old-age pension, but would have been a reward for services rendered to the country, and for that alone. (Applause.) Mr. H. J H. Okey, M.P., explained in reply the action of himself, and his colleague, Mr. Wilkinson, over the Military Pension Bill, which his party had passed. Personally, he always thought that they had a great deal to thank th" veterans for, and he aid not think i tin' young men of the present day fully r•■:■■(scd the debt of gratitude they owed. As Uey knew, the Government had pas<;d a measure giving the veterans a pulsion. A voice: Some of them! He had not been satisfied with that measure. 'They knew that. He considered that the pension given to the veterans should be a recognition alone of the services they had rendered to the country. (Applause.) If they were going to recognise the services of the veterans, they could not pick and choose in their recognition. His colleague, Mr. Wilkinson, and himself, had done their best to get a Bill passed in the direction he had indicated. And when the decision was taken, they had both voted against their party. Some things had been said against the Government, but he did not think these things should be said, for the reason that the Government had only just come into power, and also they were the only Government who had ever recognised the veterans in any way. (Applause.) He believed, however, that the present Government were prepared to amend the Bill, though he did not say they would give the pension to every man. Still, he thought the property qualification would be

scored out altogether. (Applause.) Mr. Okey went on to say that he knew his chief (Mr. Masscy) 'held similar views to his own. but in this matter had been over-ruled by his Cabinet. The estimated cost of the pensions was £25.000, and the actual cost £20,000. On his return to Parliament, he intended to ask for a return of the saving to the Old Age Pension expenditure. Mr. Okey concluded, amidst applause, with the assurance that he would always do his utmost for the veterans.

Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., also spoke in similar strains, and paid a high tribute to Mr. Okey's services in Parliament on bphalf of the veterans. He thought the whole matter of pensions would be re-considered, when an accurate estimate of the cost had been obtained. He believed that an amended measure would be brought down, giving the pension to all those men who had served their country. Mr. Wilkinson referred to the enthusiastic manner in which the country had received the system of universal" training. Speaking of the Navy, Mr. Wilkinson said that a naval policy might shortly be expected, and he hoped the people of New Zealand would give it their' loyal support because he felt certain 'those changes would be in the interest of the Empire as a whole. Tt was quite certain that New Zealand would have to do a great deal more in naval defence that it had ever before done. He looked to the day when there would be a combined New Zealand, Australian, and Canadian fleet, always subject to the supreme control of the. British Government. (<\nplanse.) l r "OUR HAWERA COMRADES." To Captain Mace was entrusted the honor of proposing the toast of "Our Hawera Comrades." He had served with them all. he said, at different tunes but he thought he could hardly talk of that, since it savoured somewhat of blowing their own trumpets. That would be an awkward thing to do! The Veteran Society, he continued, had been started many years ago. Great difficulties had been experienced in getting together the men, but it had been done. Hawera had a branch of the Society Mid it gave them very great plcasurflh meet them that day. He hoped <wt»ings such as these would continue for many years to come. "We are goin°- to live a lons time," continued Captain Maee. "We are not 'scrubbers.' I see none of them around me." (Applause.) The Vice-President of the Hawera branch (Mr. R. W. Foreman) replied that might say, for himself, that he left this district iu 'O3, and that dav he had met many old friends whom he'hart not seen since that day. When the war first broke out here, he had been too youno to bear arms, but later, he had done his duty to his country. "And I may sav," he coneluded, "that, alttiough I have met / the Natives many times, I never was as nervous then as I am now" (An ' plause and laughter.) ' v

. ' ■ ■ "\ Private Scott (Ngatimaru) also Bpotoa> "THE VETERANS." The toast of "The Veterans" was proposed by Mr. W. T. Jennings. Speaking of the unsettled days of '45, he said it. was a most extraordinary thing that every Parliament had shirked its duty with regard to rewarding men who had fought for their country. There weremen who had fought nobly in the first war, but who were in need to-day. They had never received an acre of land from any Government. The speaker contrasted this treatment with the generous measures America had taken. Colonel Ellis responded, and tfianked all the veterans for attending so well to visit the New Zealand. OTHER TOASTS. Other toasts proposed were: "Local Bodies" (proposed by Lieutenant Rose and responded to.by His Worship the Mayor), "The Ladies." (proposed, by Private Hughes), "The Press," (proposed bv the Chairman and responded to by the editors of the "Taranaki Daily News" and Inglewood Record), anil "The Chairman" (Colonel Ellis) (proposed by Mr. W. T. Jennings). MUSICAL PROGRAMME. A most enjoyable musical programme was rendered. During the progress of the dinner, Carter's Military Band provided most acceptable items. Later the following gentlemen rendered songs and recitations:—Messrs. McTsaac, B Vinsen, R. Hill-Johnson, Lovell, end Hawkins, Sergeant Mahoney, Corporal Bell, Corporal Scott, and Sergeant-Maior Bond.

The singing of "Auld Lang Syno" ter minated a notable gathering.