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(e) South African War. —In 1903 the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, that a history of the services of New Zealand troops in the South African War should be produced. Five separate authors have been engaged since that date, but their accounts were either not completed or were considered unsuitable for publication as an official history. The South African War Veteran's Association, which for many years has been anxious to have a history published, again approached the Minister during last year. As a result of these representations it was agreed that the Branch undertake the research and writing of a history for official publication, and this is now ready for the printer. Although the appeal of this work will probably be limited, it will undoubtedly fill Si gap in the records of New Zealand history. The considerable problems of printing, publication, and distribution of these war histories now require decisions, and recommendations have been submitted to Cabinet. A high standard of accuracy is aimed at, which entails most careful and laborious 'examination of records, official and unofficial documents, personal narratives and letters, books written by persons of authority, records of Allied Forces and German-Japanese records, and the conduct of numerous interviews. The Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editor attended a conference of British Commonwealth and American historians held at Washington in February. This was attended also by the British, Canadian, Australian, and South African historians and editors. 'The main questions dealt with were synchronization (as far as possible) of programmes, methods for exchange of information, establishment of a uniform system of place-names, and arrangements for access to, translation of, and distribution of the German records, which are held, almost complete, in Washington. Most satisfactory arrangements were made which must have good effects on the accuracy and value of our histories and increase their circulation. All the countries represented at this Conference are preparing full and detailed histories—their historians intend to produce fair and objective histories and are free from all but the most unavoidable censorship. It was satisfactory to find that the New .Zealand plan was generally approved. X. WAR GRAVES A. New Zealand Graves Total Burials in New Zealand In the previous annual report details were given of a post-war provisional summary of burials of ex-servicemen in New Zealand recorded by the Department. The figures have since been rechecked and, with the addition of registrations during the period ended 31st March, 1948, the totals at that date, stood as follows :

These burials are distributed amongst public, servicemen's, and Maori cemeteries in New Zealand. Of this total, 786 are recorded as cremations.

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—- War Graves. ! Non-war Graves. Total. First World War Second World War South African veterans Miscellaneous —i.e. Maori War veterans, Allied Forces, &c. 4,494 1,246 11,647 466 16,141 1,712 1,010 2,300 21,163