BURIAL OF WAR VETERANS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 51, 29 February 1916, Page 6

BURIAL OF WAR VETERANS.

GOVERNMENT ALLOWANCE. SUGGESTED BY THOMAS. In practicaEy every public function which takes place within our city, whether it be the departure or return of our gallant troops, or a parade to further the interests of some benevolent cause, our war veterans take a prominent part. Their appearance, in many cases, breasts liberally decorated with active service medals, never fails to evoke the sympathy and applause of tha onlookers. Yet it seems strangely out of place that many of these same veterans who have played , such a prominent part in our early settlement, receive at their death a burial under the Paupers' Act. This does not even entitle them to a burial service of any kind.

Such a case arose a few days ago. A veteran of the first Maori war passed away at Albany. The deceased, 86 years of age, was an Imperial pensioner receiving about 10/ a week. He died destitute of friends and money. Only for the personal efforts of Captain Thoma3, of the Auckland Public Hospital, he would have been buried as a pauper. However, representations made to several well-known citizens resulted in a sufficient cum being collected to enable the deceosed to be given a fitting burial In the course of an interview this morning, Captain Thomas expressed the opinion that a pauper's burial was not at all in keeping with the services the veterans have rendered. He was of the opinion that the Government should allow a maximum sum of £6 to provide for the fitting burial of any veteran who died in destitute circumstances.