SOLDIERS' GRAVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 142, 15 June 1920, Page 9

SOLDIERS' GRAVES.

A lettor was read nt tbe meeting of the Onehunga Borongli Council last from the Department of Internal AlTnira respecting soldiers' graves in the \Vaikaraka cemetery. The ■writer, Jliss Edith M. Stathain, inspector of graves, stated that she had suggested to the Minister that it would, he a good thing if the local authorities would take over the care of the graves at half the usual cost of attention, seeing they are soldiers' graves, and there arc a good many of them. Miss .Statham further informed the. council that the soldiers graves were beautifully kept in every cemetery in the South Island, and no demand had ever been made for assistance by the authorities. The graves in the North Island are almost univereally neglected. The painful surprise of the. council when this statement was read was relieved ftomewhat by the admission of the writer that "Waikaraka cemetery is very much better than any of the others." A suggestion on the same subject was also received from Mr. A. J. Cave, of 'Wellington to the ell'ect that the One-h-ungu Borough Council should take such steps as would ensure that upon every grave wherein a soldier lies buried, there should be placed each week a few fresh (lowers. Also a flower container on each grave bearing the information that the. flowers were placed there hv residents of Onehunga as a token of thankfulness for services rendered. Miss Statham'e letter was referred to the Cemetery Committee and 31r. Cave's letter was received.