NEW CEMETERY NEEDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 303, 22 December 1932, Page 8

NEW CEMETERY NEEDED.

WELLINGTON'S PROBLEM.

CREMATION THE SOLUTION?

The- refusal of the Minister of Internal Affairs to promote legislation to empower the Wellington C'ity Council to utilise an area of 25 acres adjoinin™ Karori Cemetery for cemetery purposes raises the question of opening another city cemetery (says the "Post"). ] n . quiries made to-day show that so far nothing definite has been decided as to the site for a new cemetery. It is neces. sary that ample space should be p ro .' vided. Those who visit Karori arc surprised at the dimensions of this city 0 f : the dead, and, though there is a definite increase in the preference for cremation it is so gradual that it is certain that another huge cemetery will be fl]] e j before public opinion has greatly changed in this rcspect.

In 1924 there were 44 cremations, j n 1925 60, in 1926, 47. In the twelve months ending March, 1930, there were 90, iu the next twelve 95, and in. the eight months ending November 30, 193> i 78. Despite occasional fluctuations, it will ho eccn that the cremations show a fairly steady increase, though they represent only a small percentage of the ordinary interments. Ordinary burials for the eight months ending last November were 638, but these showed a bi» drop on former years. For the twelve months ending on March 31, 1931, the number was 1179.

Will there come a time when cremations equal or exceed burials? Sentiment, and in some cases religious beliefs, cause many of the objections to cremation, and in such matters there can be no compulsion. Cremations are, however, even now cheaper than burials, and in the course of time the distances to be travelled by funeral corteges, with the resultant additional expense, may causa a change in public opinion. Few suburbs are anxious to secure the next cemetery, which may be larger even than Karori, yet in the interests of relatives who tend graves, long pi], grimages ,which occupy both time and money, should, if possible, be avoided.