SOLDIERS’ GRAVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1922, Page 5

SOLDIERS’ GRAVES.

ERECTION OF HEADSTONES. ■UNIFORMITY OF DESIGN. The question of the type of headstone to be erected on the graves of soldiers buried in the soldiers' plot at the Te Henui cemetery was the subject of a letter from the War Graves Division of the Department of Internal Affairs before the New Plymouth Borough Council last night. The letter stated that the position, so far as soldiers’ plots throughout the Dominion were concerned, was that on the graves deemed to be war graves, the Government was erecting universal headstones of the same design as those erected over the graves in France and other theatres of war. War graves were deemed to be the graves of men who lost their Jives as the result of the war. In the soldiers’ plot at the Te Henui cemetery there were eight soldiers’ graves, but only one could bo deemed a war grave. The letter continued that as a result of a conference with the Returned Soldiers’ Association it nad been decided that burials of ex-members of the N.Z.E.F., whether in war graves or hoc, should be permitted in soldiers’ cemeteries, but in the case of those not deemed to be war graves, permission for burial should be given only on condition that the relatives undertake to have permanent work carried out in conformity with that being done by the Government.

A design of a suitable headstone, differing but slightly from those to bo placed over war graves, was now under consideration bv the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Defence, and should it be approved, the design would be forwarded to the council at an early date. “In the interests of uniformity in our soldiers’ cemeteries,” the writer concluded, “and so that the graves may be identifiable with the N.Z.E.F. throughout the Dominion, it is earnestly hoped that relatives will adopt the proposals. I should be very glad to know if the council ie prepared to draw up conditions for the soldiers’ plot at Te Henui similar to those adopted by other centres.”

The borough manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) said that the position was that some of the relatives wished to erect different headstones, while the Government desired them to be of a uniform pattern. The Mayor pointed out that the council had set apart a plot for the soldiers at the cemetery. It was not compulsory that soldiers should be buried there, but if relatives desired to avail themselves of the privilege they should conform to the conditions. He moved that the department’s request be acceded to. Councillors generally were of opinion that it was desirable to adhere to the uniform design of headstones, _ but hopes were expressed that the Minis'vrs would soon come to a decision regarding the design, under consideration. If there was going to be any delay, they thought that relatives should be empowered to erect headstones. The Mayor said that the Minister of I Defence would be here shortly and if 1 a decision had not ibeen come to by then, ( his attention could be drawn to the 1 The motion, w