CHARGE OF NEGLECT

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1938, Page 8

CHARGE OF NEGLECT

STEVENSON'S GRAVE

ALLEGED. OFFICIAL APATHY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, December 29. Complaints that the grave of Robert, Louis Stevenson on the summit of Mount Vaea, Samoa, has been seriously neglected during the period of New Zealand administration are reported in the "Sunday Times" by its Sydney correspondent. It is stated that visitors have commented on the condition of the grave today with when Germany was.in control, and that efforts are being made to iifterest the New ■ Zealand Government in its responsibilities.

"Ap,art from the neglected state" of the tomb, vandals have not been prevented from scratching their names on it, and some have even gone to the extent of removing chunks of the concrete slab which covers the grave," •the article adds. "There have been many previous ;complaints concerning New Zealand's disinterestedness in the great writer's resting-place. The last followed the report of Captain Rignell, of the Swedish motor-ship Tblken, made early this year. As the result of that report representations were made to the fTew Zealand Government by the Eobert Louis Stevenson Club in Edinburgh; but travellers report that little has been done other than a formal acknowledgment of the complaint by the Administration of Western Samoa, and a statement that it is extremely difficult to slop vandalism. "Various suggestions have been advanced , for (he preservation of the tomb, one of Afhich is the appointment of a curator vvho would be responsible for its care and maintenance and the prevention of vandalism. The cost would not be-prohibitive. Cost is not1 the main factor as many private offers of financial support have been made, and more than one person has volunteered the. wliole cost of the restoration of -the grave., "The approach ,is by a beautiful bridle path through quick-growing tropical undeigrowth, which at times becomes almost impassable. The Administration has, however, provided the labour to keep the path; clear during recent months"