SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1921, Page 6

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS.

NORTH TARANAKI BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING AND REUNION. The third annual meeting of the North Taranaki branch of the South African Veterans’ Association was held in the Foresters’ Hall, New Plymouth, on Saturday night, when Mr. L, De Launay. president, presided over an attendance of about thirty members. Apologies were received from Comrades G. Morton and G. Gibson. The president, in dealing with the report, said that the year had been a very busy one indeed, particularly for the executive. He made reference to the loss the association had sustained by the deaths of Comrades Ellis and Worsup. The vacancy on * the executive caused by the death of the latter had been filled by the appointment of Comrade McKinder. The annual dinner had proved a financial and social success in every way. He regretted to say that out of a membership of approximately 100 less than 50 were financial members. This, he felt sure, was merely due to negligence on the part of those members. The association had had heavy calls during the year and it was felt that not only should an effort be made to collect outstanding subscriptions. but that the subscription should be raised from 5/- to at least 10/- for one year. He felt that he would be failing in his duty if he did not place on record the sterling work of the secretary (Mr. D. P. Evans).

For years past it had been felt that some effort sh uld be made to expand the associations throughout New Zealand. Consequently, owing to the association being unable to pay an organiser. he had made a semi-holiday tour of New Zealand (with the approval of the Taranaki Associations) and had endeavored to link up the associations then in existence and endeavor to form other associations. He first visited Wellington to ascertain what had been done at a conference* held there some fifteen months previously. He found that the business of the conference was to establish a Dominion Association, with headquarters at Wellington, and Mr. Clark was appointed secretary. Only five associations were represented. It was decided to adopt a badge and also make a levy of 1/- per member up to £lO. The other business was to wait on the Government and ask for similar treatment to returned soldiers. They received a favorable reception, but the matter was shelved owing to finance. From, those five associations they now had twenty-three associations established from one end of New Zealand to the other, artd he hoped to hear of two further associations being formed any day. He then detailed at length the proceedings at the Dominion conference held a fornight a\ >. which he attended as representative from Stratford. Eltham and Hawera, as well as New Plymouth. Many remits had been sent by them, but the most important were in connection with the badge, which it was decided should be the fern leaf with the word South Africa written across it, and these would be distributed immediately. Another remit was that members of the teaching service and civil service who went to the war should be treated in regard to superannuation privileges in the same way as teachers in the recent Great War. This, however, was incorporated in a general remit. suggesting that South African veterans should be treated the same as the returned soldiers. Anotner important remit from Taranaki was that in regard to an official bulletin, it was arranged that “Quick March.” the official paper of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, should be their official paper also. They had had endless enquiries as to the qualifications for the King’s medal, and he understood that of 7000 soldiers that left New Zealand only 119 had qualified for the King’s medal, the full qualifications for which would be published shortly. He said that Any South African veteran who had any ailment that he considered due to his campaigning in South Africa, could go before a medical board with a view to obtaining free hospital treatment. The conference had been well entertained by the Wellington Association, and on the fbllowing Thursday a deputation waited on the Prime Minister and the Hon. Mr. Guthrie. Unfortunately he had not been able to stop for the conference with the Premier, but he submitted a brief report, which showed that the Prime Minister said he remembered the promise that the wants of the South African veterans would be met when the soldiers of the Great War were provided for. He was surprised to find that there were quite a number of these latter not yet dealt with, and that the funds had almost run out. He would see if it was necessary to make statutory provision to include them. There was a possibility of this being done this session, but there was much , urgent w’ork which Parliament must do. Mr. Guthrie was not present, but the Prime Minister said he would consult . him in regard to granting South African veterans the concession of participating in land ballots, and there was a st-ong probability that legislation in this di-ec-tion would be introduced this session. This the president considered very satisfactory. Their claims were very just and people right throughout New Zealand, and Parliament also, he believed, recognised this.

The balance-sheet showed that receipts had been £l7 7s Id (subscriptions and donations £l3 17s 6d). Expenditure totalled £26 17s Sd (organisation expenses £l4. advertising £2 as M. stamps £3 4s 6d)_ There was a debit of £9 10s 7d. The balance-sheet of the re-union dinner showed that the dinner cost £lB 15s, and subscriptions, etc., just totalled £lB 15s 6d. The chairman then formally moved the adoption of the report and balancej sheet. I This was seconded by Comrade Weston and carried without discussion. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Stratford branch apologising for the absence of any representatives, and suggesting that it would be advisable to have one Taranaki Association (one president, secretary, etc.) instead of all the small branches. The president of the Eltham branch also stated that they were trying to join in with Stra'tford to see if the larger membership would create more enthusiasm. A letter was received from Rev. F. G. Harvie notifying that the roll of honor in St. Mary's Church, in memory of the men of the church who gave their lives in the war, was- to be unveiled on Sunday. November 27. and also that a flag was to be presented by Major Urquhart, M.C., as a memorial. He aUo invited

the South African war veterans to parade for the occasion. ELECTION OF Officers were elected as follow: President, Comrade L. De Launay (re-elect-ed) ; vice-presidents, Comrades W. McPherson (re-elected) and R. Pike; executive, Comrades G. Calvert, A. Western, G. Morton. C. McKinder, A. Murphy (re-elected) ; secretary, Comrade D. P. Evans (re-elected). GENERAL. The subscription for the ensuing year was fixed at 10/-. A vote of thanks was accorded the president and secretary, the retiring executive and the president. An hour or two was then spent round the camp fire.