WELL-KEPT WAR GRAVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18889, 11 December 1924, Page 12

WELL-KEPT WAR GRAVES.

CEMETERIES IN FRANCE.

AN AUCKLANDER'S VISIT,

The splendid lay-out and condition of the New Zealand military cemeteries in various parts of France was favourably commented upon yesterday by Mr. R. G. Cox, of Heme Bay, who with Mrs. Cox returned from an extended tour, which included visits to Northern and Central France.

The finished cemeteries, said Mr. Cox, looked very fine, each grave having its small headstone and surrounding will, while the areas themselves were well laid out and splendidly kept. Many of these cemeteries. had special conservatories where flowers were raised, so that the graves were always well supplied, and presented an attractive appearance that would gladden the hearts ■r>f the relatives of the New Zealand boys who were buried there. A unique spot visited bv Mr. and Mrs. Cox was the Newfoundland Memorial Park near Albert, in the Somme district, an area of 600 acres left just fea it was when the Germans were driven out after terrific fiihtirtg. From one point of this park it wan possible to sec 16 war cemeteries.

The controversy over the right of New Zealand people to put additional wording on the headitones in the war cemeteries was referred to by Mr. Cox, whose son. Lieutenant W. .J. Cox, was killed in action in March, 1918. Whila the New Zealand Government had refused to sallow the addition of inscriptions, all other Governments had permitted it. He felt that ■where a cometery contained only the. graves of New Zealand soldiers the Government's attitude was the correct one, as it prevented Undue emphasis on the part of wealthy relatives. However, many of the cemeteries contained English, Australian and other graves besides those o* New Zealand, and while thejie other graves generally bore a fully descriptive inscription the New Zealand headstones contained only the- name and regiment. He did not think this discrimination was cither wise or fair to the soldiers.