SOLDIERS GRAVES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3188, 12 September 1917, Page 7

SOLDIERS GRAVES

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO DO. TEe Department of Internal Affairs is giving attention to. the question of caring for graves of members of the Now Zealand Expeditionary Forco dying 1 in the present war. It has been decided that the Defence Department should be responsible for all graves bejond Now Zealand, and that the Department of Internal Affairs should undertake tTio cara of graves in the Dominion, that is to say the groves of thoso who die wniio in hospital or in camp, or on their return to 'iNew Zealand after active service abroad, and while they aro still members of the Expeditionary Force. Tho following line ■of action has been adopted , (1) Tli« Kegistrar-General will give full particulars of the men with whoso graves the Department will deal. . ■ (3) A standatd type of grave 1 is being dfceided oii, simplicity and artistic design to bo the main features. , Tho Government Arohitect has submitted designs, and several sample gravestones are being made for inspection before any particular design is adopted. (3)The actual work will be commenced 'at Wellington, Featherston, and Auckland, where, of course, most of the soldiers -who have died in New Zealand are buried.

The next-of-kin will bo informed in oach case of whai tlir. Government is doing. With. ; ono exception, those controlling 1 cemeteries havo expressed willingness to supply burial plots free of cost, and to pormit the Government to erect suitable headstones or memorials.