CREMATORIUM IN AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 209, 1 September 1916, Page 6

CREMATORIUM IN AUCKLAND.

A MINISTERIAL STJGGEITIOK. . ' '" .■.- •;■ Tt';:IN INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH. CONFERENCE WITH THE MAYOR. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon.' "** G. W. Russell), in the course of au interview this morning, touched on the '■■ subject of the Mt. Roskill cemeterjvi' which has been a matter of dispute for'; some time between the Road Board and residents of Mt. Roskill and the Onehunga Borough Council. The Minister remarked that the pressure of tion -rapid grp-a*th:j*f ihe .atfe" of New Zealand" especially. Aietlan-J. made it most desirable that ths {oestioa | of cremation should be front thp v ideal to a practical issue! M*v Buss?!! said that in an interview he had had tbU morning with the Mayor he had-dis-cuased with Mr. Giuison the desirableness of the city establishing at Waikumete or some other suitable' place ia* crematorium which would he not only for the city but also for "the suburban boroughs and the suiTOundißjrSfr districts. Wellington had established; s crematorium at Karori which he under- , stood was being used at the present tisss for an average of about two cremations pier month. Mr. Russell went on;td A/if. _m that what impressed him more than aey-. thing else "was the absolute necessity of ' our guarding the interests of the future,f» Auckland City would before many years probably extend from the Waitemati'fii'f. ; " the Manukau, and it was therefore high-.-: a ■ly desirable that- cemeteries should-.not be located in this territory. It was still ; - more desirable that by a system of ere- ...,;■■ mation the burial of dead bodies,. whifii|j:; represented ; contamination ;to wst>r - - springs and menaced the general health, should be avoided. He. therefore desired -.-.■:... to place the question of cremation upon a broader footing, and had instructed the Internal Affairs Department to have a, - report prepared to place before PsrlUment next session representing what wis being done in the matter of cremstioi: over the civilised world. Cremation .w»* M the usual form of burial in "Japan, where ;:: the necessity of conserving every inch «" ground had appealed to the people.of! that progressive country. The Ma*f*!s"! of Auckland, added Mr. Rilsiell, hsf been good enough to say that the quw- ;. tion was one which should be discussed. . and that he would bring it before.the City Council in order that a report niiWv" be prepared for the purpose of advjsisf the citizens as to a and propet course to follow under the circumstances.y