WAR GRAVES.
[To THE ED/TOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—As the representative of New Zealand on the Imperial War Graves Commission, I naturally take a great interest in the graves of our soldiers, and I have read the letter signed "A. S. T." which appeared in your issue of July 10th. I understand, as a result of my inquiries, that your correspond- ent's statement in reference to the full Christian and surnames, that only eighteen letters, including word spaces, are allowed is correct in so far as it refers to one line, but an making this limitation the Commission lays down no hard-and-fast rule, only intending that it should serve as a guide to the capacity of the stone as regards length of personal inscriptions. I am advised that in this particular instance a full-size lay-out drawing has been sent to the next-of-kin in order to show that the Commission has met her wishes in every way, for in addi- tion to the regimental badge there are given the rank of deceased, the full name, containing twenty-eight letters exclu- sive of word spaces, the unit, and a short personal inscription. It is true that -the names are distributed over two lines. Might I add that I have been assured that every special request of the next-of-kin is most carefully considered, and that it is .never rejected unless it is absolutely impossible to comply with the wishes expressed. I am also assured that any modification is made only under agreement with the next-Of-kin. I believe it ias always been the object of the Commission to endeavour to
meet the wishes of relatives in every way, and that, so far, any difficulties which have arisen have been overcome.—I am, Sir,
THOMAS MACKENZIE,
High Commissioner for New Zealand..
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