SOLDIERS’ GRAYES.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1918, Page 3

SOLDIERS’ GRAYES.

UNIFORM MONUMENT

STATEMENT BY lION. 0. \V. RUSSELL. DUNEDN, July 27. lii replying to a. deputation representing the Returned Soldiers Association in regard to the questions of providing suitable head-stones for returned soldiers’ graves and 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. by 15in, on which the namo will be engraved. Three or four of these had been made by the Public Works Department and submitted to tbo defence Department for approval, but the Defence Department seemed to have different ideas and there had not been an agreement yet, though it must be nearly a year since the stones were made. Ho would endeavour to have tho matter brought to n conclusion, though he was not sure it could be done until Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward returned. Twenty or thirty soldiers had been buried in Wellington but he had authorised their disintern ment, so as to have all in the soldiers’ section, and ho was prepared to give the same authority here, provided the relatives consent. Ho approved of the Hll gK e ®Uon to have one large monument in the centre of each soldier’s plot in each cemetery so used, and hi? thought there would he no difficulty in securing money for such monuments. The Government would pay for the headstones. Tho total cost might come to anything from £70,000, to £IOO,OOO. The'headstone designed by the Public Works Department cast about £3. It was generous of the Dunedin Citv Coun-

cil to offer to pay for the maintenance but the Women’s National Reserve in Wellington, and promised to do this, and he felt sure the Women’s National Reserve in Dunedin would be equally willing