SOLDIERS' GRAVES.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3222, 9 January 1917, Page 5

SOLDIERS' GRAVES.

THE CAKE OF THE GOVERNMENT

For -ome yeans the Department of Internal Affairs has been charged with the responsibility of seeing to lhe condition of soldier*' graves within :iie Dominion and a considerable futn of money has been expended, mder the care of a special officer, to maintain the condition of the grave.- of soldiers who fell in the .Mao.i war. The Hon. 0. W .Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, informed a representative of ''The Press" that the Cabinet lias extended the activities of the Department by making it responsible for the graves in the Dominion (of i-oldiers belonging to the Expeditionary Force. Arrangements are now being made for the careful preparation of a list of the names of soldiers who have died in the. service, and their grave.? will be cared for, and in cases where i: is .so desired, a suitable stone, giving the soldiers's name and other particulars, will be erected. "I hardly think," Mr Russell continued, "that the Government will accept this responsibility h\ connection with the grave of every man who has been in the service. The intention at pre-cnt Ls to care for the graves of those who have died whilst in the service, and not of those who have died after being discharged from it. I hope that subsequently, in the various districts, Soldiers' Graves Guilds will lie established so that their members can exercise their kindly appreciation of the men who have served and who may die after leaving the service. I think that every man who has volunteered or served, Ls entitled to some recognition after he has passed away."