BURIAL OF WAR VETERANS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 53, 2 March 1916, Page 7

BURIAL OF WAR VETERANS.

(To the Editor.) . « Sir,—The suggestion of Capt Thomas, manager of the Auckland General Hoe-" pit—, in last night's 'Star" is a good one, and I hope for humanity's sake will bo carried out. My experience of ten years as ibon. secretary of the King's Empire Veterans has been that many old veterans wil] not trouble to join our King's Empire Veterans, >wihich is only 2/0 per annum subscription, but when the time comes they have nothing to leave to bury them decently. We never allow a member to be buried as a pauper. But, umfortunately, the veteran who died at the hospital a few days ago did not belong to the King's Empire Veterans. Capt. Thomas rang mc up as ban. sec. of the K.E.V. and asked if *h_ veteran was a member, and I found he was not. The K.E.V. do wondera for their members, considering ■they pay only 2/6 per ainrum. lest year the KJE.V. paid £9 10/ to assist in burying those members who iwore in destitute circumstances, and also £5 to the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund. If all old soldiers would only think that for 2/6 per armirm subscription to the K.E.V. they would be guaranteed a registered Christian.burial if destitute, it would, be to their advantage to join. Oapt. Thomas takes a great interest in our K-EV.'s, and, wrtli those ever-ready citizens who subscribed to help this veteran,.should be thanked" by tho public. The amount allowed by tho.K,E-Y- is £3,, which is-supplemented by- nearly £2 allowed hy "tlie Hospina l and Charitable Aid Board for 'burial. —I am, etc.,

JAMES STICHBURY, Ca.pt,, Hon. Sec. K.E.V.