WHERE SOLDIERS LIE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1921, Page 5

WHERE SOLDIERS LIE.

THE PLYMOUTH GRAVES. REPLY TO RECENT ALLEGATIONS. EVERY CARE EXERCISED. Regarding the conditions of graves of New Zealand soldiers whose remains were interred at Plymouth, England, news has been received from a reliable source in Plymouth that the report made by a correspondent who visited Plymouth, to the effect that the condition of soldiers’ graves was unfavourable (which was mentioned in Parliament) was an unfounded allegation. “The natural inference,” says the writer, “is that the graves of the New Zealand soldiers at the Plymouth cemeteries are in a bad condition, and to ascertain the true state of affairs a representative of The Western Morning News visited the Municipal Cemetery at Egg Buckland, where there are about a score of these graves. The result is a complete refutation of any suggestion that the graves are not well cared for. Apparently there has been some misunderstanding. The superintendent of this cemetery recalls the visit of the correspondent, whose grievance was not that the Plymouth Corporation had not done its duty, but that the New Zealand Government had not handled the matter in the same way as the Australian Government. “The Commonwealth Government have purchased the grave plots where Australian soldiers are buried and have made special arrangements with the Plymouth Corporation for the graves to be kept in order. The New Zealand Government. have not acted in a similar manner. To say, however, that the New Zealand graves are neglected is not correct. As a matter of fact, it was onlysix weeks since that a New Zealand official visited the cemetery and expressed satisfaction to the superintendent with the condition of the graves. He did suggest that the tops might be returfed, and this was at once done. “The graves are somewhat scattered by reason of the fact that the men died at various dates and belonged to different denominations, byt with the manner in which the graves themselves are kept our representative found no reason to complain. In many instances relatives and friends have erected tombstones and kerbs. Where this has not been done the graves are marked by the official cross, which is much larger and more conspicuous than the crosses which mark the resting places of soldiers from Australia and Canada, or our own men. The graves in every instance are neat and orderly, and quite in keeping with the rest of the cemetery. “At Torquay cemetery the* large grave of six New Zealand soldiers was visited by one of our representatives, who found it in very good condition, the grass being well cut and five bunches of flowers around the cross. On the opposite side of the pathway, however, where there are a score or so of graves of other soldiers, whilst most of them are in good condition, there are a few that present a rather neglected appearance, and would look all the better if the grass was cut.” In submitting a splendid photograph of the actual graves of New Zealanders, the writer says: “I think this will be appreciated by their relatives who are left at home, and who otherwise have no means of ascertaining what is being done in regard to the graves of those they loved so much.”