SOLDIERS' GRAVES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 265, 29 July 1918, Page 4

SOLDIERS' GRAVES

. 4 . QUESTION OF SUITABLE HEADSTONES. By Telegraph.-rress AGsociation. Dunedin, July 27. In rop!ying to a deputation representing the Returned Soldiers' Association in regard to questions of providing suitable headstones, for returned soldiers' graves, nnd having a general memorial in each cemetery, the Hon. G. W. Russell said a design had been prepared for a uniform headstone made of reinforced concrete, with "N.Z.E.F." in raised letters and a cross dividing the four letters, and towards the bottom a marble slab about lOin. x. 15in., on which the name would be engraved. Three or four of these had been made by tho Public Works Department, and submitted to the Defence Department for approval, but the Defence Department seemed to have 1 different ideas, and there had not yet been agreement, though it must be nearly a year since the stones were made. He would endeavour to have the matter brought to a conclusion, though he was not sure it could be till Mr. Masscy and Sir Joseph Ward returned. Twenty or thirty soldiers have been buried' in Wellington, but he had authorised disinterment, 60 as to have all in the soldiers' sections, and he was prepared to give tho same authority here, provided the relatives consent. lie approved a nuggestion to have one large monument in the centre of each soldiers' plot in each cemetery so used, nnd he thought there would bo no difficulty in. securing money for such monuments. The Government would pay for the headstones. The total cost might come to anything from X-70.000 to .£IOO,OOO. The headstone designed by I lie Public Works Department cost about £3. It was genorous of the Dunedin City Council to offer to pay for maintenance, but the Women's National Reserve in Wellington had promised to do this, nnd he felt euro the Women's National Reservo in Dunedin would be equally willing.