Way now clear for park cemetery

Press, 17 February 1983, Page 6

Way now clear for park cemetery

' The Waimairi District *“ Council last evening cleared * the way for its new park- ; lands cemetery in Avonhead

to open in April. The council, at its monthly

- meeting confirmed after /.more than one. hour’s debate "•a special order for a by-law v which incorporates the new • Avonhead Memorial Park : Cemetery in Hawthornden Road.

' The cemetery, where in'dividual graves can be found 1-only by metal detector, has *■ drawn much comment for L . and against from ratepayers : and other groups. Each grave will be marked by a buried metal •disc. A sexton will use a /‘metal detector to find • precise graves. ;■ Receptacles for flowers ■ will be provided at a records

. .room. Councillors spoke for and ' /against the new concept, and -/voted on several amend- / ments.

• They finally confirmed the ' by-law. A proposal by Cr I. : -G. Clark reaffirming the council’s policy to provide alternative cemeteries with

memorial plaques for those ~ who wish, was also passed. I The council’s chairman, * Mr D. B. Rich, said it had always been in the council’s /mind that an alternative type of cemetery to the new lone would be available.

» Cr Hazel Tait said she did ’. not believe the council had

• the right to prohibit entirely l;any memorial or tablet at

the new cemetery. “This by-law is not in line • with the spirit and intention of the Burial and Cremation <■ Act.” she said. If the council / went ahead with the by-law, it would be challenged in a

court of law. Mr Rich said the council’s 2 solicitor believed the by-law * was perfectly legal. » Cr Tait said that if the r council did not accept her -legal arguments, she would

appeal to councillors on an emotional level. “I cannot believe that all councillors are made of stone, and that they do not feel for people who want to go to a grave and relate to a specific plot where they feel close to the person buried,” she said.

People would have to be shown the graves in normal working hours. Many people would want to visit the cemetery at a week-end or during a summer evening. Taking flowers to a grave was something positive to do for loved ones to feel close to them. Cr Tait said two similar cemeteries to the new one had failed, and she did not want this to happen in Waimairi.

“I do not want to see this council challenged in Court, and I know it will be,” she said.

Cr Tait unsuccessfully moved an amendment to the by-law which, in effect, would have allowed plaques in the cemetery, if they complied with council provisions.

Cr P. M. Carter said he had heard some disquiet about the new cemetery. He unsuccessfully moved that the by-law go back to the finance and by-laws committee for further consideration. . Cr Rich said that to refer the matter back would mean starting procedures for the opening of the cemetery again. Cr F. S. Blogg said he had spoken to several persons who were “very hot” about the by-law. Most ratepayers did not really know what was going on. Some ratepayers would be satisfied if there was ground set aside for the new cemetery concept, and ground for a more traditional cemetery. Cr Margaret Murray said she could see no reason to

refer the matter back. It was important that people realised Waimairi Cemetery still had two to three years use left before an alternative traditional cemetery had to be found.

The debate was extremely cruel as it was playing on death, she said. The Avonhead cemetery was a new concept that should be given a chance. Many people would find it a desirable place for their loved ones.

In 100 years when the cemetery was full, it would become a park. Waimairi had always provided cemeteries for its ratepayers, which not all local authorities had done. Cr F. Chisholm said there were many old, derelict cemeteries in Christchurch. The new cemetery concept had been discussed for many years, and the council had put a lot of time into it. He could not see why at this late stage the council should put the clock . back and start again. Cr Clark said many ratepayers supported the new concept. Older people had applauded the council for what it was doing. The council’s policy had been thoroughly debated, and was a good one. The council should not play with people’s emotions. All change provoked opposition, he said. To bury a person’s loved ones in a beautiful setting was the highest tribute anyone could give them, said Cr Clark.

Welcoming sign The council’s “Welcome to Waimairi County” sign will remain and be updated to read, Waimairi District.

Councillors spoke for and against the sign. Some thought it should read “Welcome to Christchurch,” but others said the name Waimairi was something to be proud of. .