DEAD SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17393, 2 March 1922, Page 7

DEAD SOLDIERS.

CEBTIFICATES TOR NEXT-OF-KIN.

(IFKCIAL to "THI mtt.")

WELLINGTON, March 1

During last session questions were put to the Minister of Defence by various members of Parliament regarding the issue to the next-of-kin of deceased soldiers of the illuminated certificate granted to soldiers themselves after discharge from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Referring to this matter_ to-day, the Minister of Defence explained that it had hitherto been thought that the scroll and plague issued by the_ Imperial authorities to the next-of-kin of deceased soldiers more appropriately commemorated the deceased than would an illuminated certificate, and that in any case the certificate granted to soldiers after discharge would requiro alteration before it could appropriately be issued to next-of-kin of deceased soldiers. In view, however, of the evident desire of many next-of-kin to receive such a certificate, Cabinet yesterday approved of the issue of an illuminated certificate, recording the servio® and date of death in the ease of deceased soldiers.

It will probably bo at least two or three months before these certificates can bo sent out to next-of-kin, as the Defence Department is at present busily engaged in the distribution of medalß, and is not intcodcd to proceed withthe issue of the new illuminated certificates until the distribution rm! 16 '? • • been 'completed. ,v '•Minister specially emphasised the fact that, in the meantime, at any rate, no applications for the certificate are necessary, inasmuch as the names and addresses >o f next-of-kin are for the most part 'already known to the department, and any time occupied by the staff m acknowledging such applications would only tend to delay the issue of _ medals, and, consequently, also the issue of the certificate itself.' - '