THE LAST RITES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 12284, 23 February 1938, Page 2

THE LAST RITES

KOP U A WII All A VICTIMS

(IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL

Hastings, Feb. 23

The bodies of seven of the 21 victims of the Kopuawhara camp disaster were buried at the Wairoa Cemetery yesterday at a public funeral, which was attended by Ministers of the Crown, representatives of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, 500 public works employees, and practically every resident of Wairoa and many from the surrounding district.

The seven victims concerned were Messrs W. Dunn, R. Johnston, F. W. Pry, T. Tracey, T. Hall, M. Pender and W. Auld. Five bodies, those of Messrs Fry, Tracey, Hall, Pender and Auld, received the burial service of the Catholic Church, for which Father Doherty, of St. Peter’s Church, Wairoa, and the Rev. .Father Cullinane, of Greenmeadows Seminary, officiated, while the Rev C. E. Hyde, of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Wairoa officiated in the case of Messrs Dunn and Johnston. The seven coffins were borne to the cemetery, a mile and a-half away, on a lorry, which was immediately followed by the following Government and union officials on foot:—The Hon P. Fraser, representing the Prime Minister; the Hon R. Semple, Minister of Public Works; Mr John Wood, engineer-in-chief to the Public Works Department; Mr W. L. Newnham, inspecting engineer for the Public Works Department: Mr A. G. Harris, Public Works Department Engineer at Wairoa; Mr E. W. Mclnnes, engineer in charge at Kopuawhara; Mr J. W. Parker, overseer at Kopuawhara; Mr E. L. Cullen, M.P. for Hawke’s Bay; Mr D. W. Coleman, M.P. for Gisborne: the Hon F, E. Lark, M.L.C.; Mr Arthur Cook, general secretary, and Mr R. Eddy, president, representing the New Zealand Workers’ Union.

Following the official party came 500 men from public works in the neighbourhood; then came two cars containing the relatives of the seven men, after which townspeople and others, travelling in 200 cars, completed the cortege. Hundreds of wreaths were piled on the lorry, while others were carried by members of the official party and public works employees. The seven bodies were buried side by side in a community grave at Wairoa Cemetery, and at the conclusion of the service messages of sympathy were read by the three officiating clergymen from The Governor-Gen-eral, Viscount Galway, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, and the public works employees at Lake Waikaremoana. All. the business houses were closed at The request of the Mayor, Mr H. L. Harker. Gisborne, Feb. 23.

Mr D. W. Coleman, M.P., for Gisborne, states that the Minister of Public Works, the Hon R. Semple, informed him that the Government will pay full compensation under the provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Act in respect of all victims of the Kopuawhara tragedy, similar to what would have been paid if the victims had lost their lives by accident while working.