CREMATION

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 55, 2 September 1916, Page 6

CREMATION

PROPOSED INTRODUCTION IN

AUCKLAND.

(BI TEL-ECBAra.—SPECIAL TO THE POST.)

AUCKLAND, This Day. The Minister of Internal Affairs, interviewed . to-day, rema/rked that the pressure of population and the rapid growth of the cities of New Zealand, especially Auckland, made it most desirable that tho question of- cremation should be reduced from an ideal to a practical issue. Mr. Russell said that in an interview he had had -with the Mayor he had discussed with Mr. Gnnson the desirableness of the city establishing a crematorium, which would be available not only for the city but also for the suburban borough and surrounding, districts. Wellington had established a crematorium at Karori. Auckland City would hefore many years probably extend from Waitemata to Manokau, and it was therefore highly desirable that cemeteries should not be located in this territory. It was desirable that earth burial, which represented contamination to water springs and menaced the general health, should be avoided. He 'desired to place the question of cremation upon a broader footing and had instructed the Internal Affairs Department to havo a report prepared to place before Parliament next session showing what was being done in the matter of cremation over the civilised -world. Cremation was tho usual form of burial in Japan, where the necessity of conserving every inch of ground had appealed to the people of that progressive country. Tho Mayor had said he would bring the question before tlie City Council, in order that a report might be prepared.