FLOWERS AT FUNERALS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 118, 14 November 1929, Page 19

FLOWERS AT FUNERALS

DUTCH TO ISSUE BAN

Because £3000 worth of flowers wore used for a single funeral in Holland, Dutch philanthropists have decided to abolish flower gifts for the dead, says an exchange.

"To waste hundreds of thousands of pounds a year for ostentatious flower gifts, which often are no expressions of mourning, but of snobbery, means an injustice to poor families that might benefit from the money," the committee declares.

"Sweden organised a 'flower fund,' which seems to us a good way out," the Dutch committee- explains. "When the Swedes noticed that they spent something like £2,000,000 a year for flower gifts and wreaths, they decided to ask that everyone should donate the money he would spend for flowers to the flower fund.' Instead of flowers, this fund would send a little album-to the family the flowers were meant for, explaining which sum had been contributed to the fund. The fund goes to a home for aged persons. "In Switzerland people add to the announcement of a death, 'Please think oi .' ard then follows the name of some hospital. This means that friends are asked to send money to the hospital instead of flowers for the grave.' ' The Dutch committee has decided to adopt the Swedish system, despite some energetic protest on the part of flower shops.