TO BE FREE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32652, 30 November 1945, Page 5

TO BE FREE

PLOTS IN THE CEMETERY SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN DECISION IN OHINEMURI Free cemetery plots for deceased returned service-men and. women were arranged to be granted by the Ohinemuri County Council at its November meeting, Cr. T. A. Barrett, presiding. The decision resulted from representations made, in a letter to the council concerning a particular case, to the effect that the War Pensions Board had' expressed the hope that some such provision would be made in arrangement with the relatives of returned servicemen who had died. The county clerk, Mr A. A. Jenkinson, said the point had been raised in some quarters whether such provision should apply to cases where it could not be estalblishedi that death was the certain result of war service, as for example in the case of a returned' serviceman who, say, was killed in a street accident.'

Cr. S. H. Thompson (with warmth)': That is just a mental quibble, and I have no patience with it. If people have served overseas surely they are worthy of a free plot in the.cemetery, whatever way they die. It is the very least we can do for men who have fought for us.

Ct. G. W. Avery: I agree with Or. Thompson. Cr. R. W. Lowry: And I. Cr. C. Christensen saw no reason why the provision of free plots should not include returned servicewomen as well as men. Cr. E .Yearbury: And there should .be no restriction as to in what part of the cemetery the plots should be. On the motion of Cr. Thompson, • seconded 1 by Cr. Avery, it was. agreed that cemetery plots be provided without charge for deceased' servicemen • and women.