SOLDIERS’ GRAVES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6623, 12 September 1908, Page 13

SOLDIERS’ GRAVES

Tho Soldiers’ Graves Guild, of which Mrs Sod don is president, recently met to determine if possible what should bo done with the sum of £709 now standing to tho credit ol the fund. None of iiic money raised by tho people of New Zealand for the upkeep or lb*- graves 01 New Zealand soldiers buried in fvmth Africa has been used, although £1(X) was forwarded to the Graves branch of tho Guild of tho Loyal Women of South Africa. It was stated at the meeting of tho New Zealand Guild that it was not known how the Loyal Women had applied tho £IOO .sent to them. Tho fact is they have never applied it at all, not having received any instructions to expend it. It is lying to the credit of the Fund in tho Bank of Africa at Capetown. A short time aso the secretary of tho Guild in Capetown wrote to a Wellington inquirer who interested himself in tlm matter .stating that representation had been mado by a New Zealander that steps should be taken to put New Zealand soldiers’ graves in order by iho Dominion authorities. This caused the Loyal Women to desist from doing anything further to New Zealand graves, although previous to thC they had been looking after all graves irrespective of tho rank or the country of soldiers who had died. Tho Imperial Army authorities in the ordinary course of duty marked tho graves that could bo found, so that oven though New Zealand made no move, all that could possibly ho done would be done regularlv.

It is now proposed that tho largo fund which is deposited locally may ho mod to erect monuments over the graves of New- Zealand soldiers who served in Africa and who have died since, in New- Zealand, or w-ho may die in tho future, each grave to be marked in tho same uniform way. As the fund was subscribed under tho condition that it was to be disbursed only for the maintenance of graves of Now- Zealand soldiers who died in Africa, it seems unlikely that anv part of it may ho used to mark the'many neglected graves of Imperial and colonial soldiers w-ho fell in the fights with tho Maoris. .1 -iropnsilion lias been made that every contributor to tho fund should bo circularised and asked if ho or she is agreeable to tho itso of the funds for tho upkeep of the graves of any Now Zealand soldier whether lie fought in South Africa, Now Zealand or elsewhere. Lieutenant Dockstrow, of tile Defence Department, is tho now- treasurer of tho fund, vice tho first treasurer, Mr H. Von Haast, retired. /