NEW ZEALAND'S DEAD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 688, 13 December 1909, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND'S DEAD.

, Sir,—According to a Press Association ■ message from -.Wellington,- appearing' in , country newspapers, a considerable sum of money was raiseil.in- New Zealand for the-upkeep of tho graves of .our soldiers in Africa;, and, it is stated,-that,it has now been decided to use this money for 'marking the; graves of the men of the New Zealand contingents "who. have died, in the Dominion." How on earth have we -any public concern .with'the manner people are buried who happen to liave fought in Africa, and "returned, here, with a whole skin? On the other hand, what have we done for those fellows ivho, went under the sod on the veld of Africa; 'beyond, the reach and ken of their-relativesand friends?' Have we marked thtir'-graves?-: Have iwe fenced the plot to keep but 'the animals, domestic ■ and ' otherwise, and to prevent. the track of the Kaffir's plough from crossing the sacred spot? Have wo :ensured; tlie. upkeep-for the. future? .'Have we,: in .a word, undertaken the work .which Usually falls to the next of kin, but which in .these. cases it .isV-beyond ..their ' power/to perform; ,;, I feel'confident- myself-, that .tho general public of: New Zealand will be surprised :to learn that we hayo done nothing in this, .directioh.-- '.A 'great deal has'been: done, but it has besn done, by the Guild of Loyal Women; of /South , Africa, . and .without ..a penny's support from us.—l am, etc., :.'':. ; '".'./ MOSTYN>JONES, Captain.'