TURKISH DECREE

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 August 1936, Page 14

TURKISH DECREE

FUNERALS ON CLASS BASIS. Class distinction, which has been abolished by law among living Turks, is to be restored to them once they are dead —or so it is to be concluded from the draft of a bylaiv relating to the burial of the dead being considered by the municipality of Istanbul, says the “New York Times.” The law in

question, ivhereby all funerals Avere to be undertaken by the municipality of Istanbul, Avas promulgated six years ago and Avas to take effect, ten vears after promulgation. The reason now given for putting forward the date of application is that, in certain districts, oAving to unexpected increase of population, hygienic burial can no longer be assured if left to private enterprise. Provision is made in laAv for five classes of funerals for adults and two clases for children, a comprehensive charge being fixed for each as folloavs: —Adults, first class, £3O; second class, £l6; third class, £10; fourth class, £5; and fifth class, £2/10/-. Children, first class, £3, and second class, £2. A first-class funeral comprises a coffin of the best material, a wreath, a hearse, twenty automobiles for the mourners, and the announcement of death in two newspapers. In the second class the announcements in the Press and the Avreath are omitted, and the number of motor-cars is reduced to ten, and so on doAvn to the fifth class, for Avhich a rough coffin only is supplied, Avith bearers to carry it from the house to the burial place. Many councillors expressed strong opposition to the adoption of the new bylaAv.

The Governor supported it, but finally it was decided to postpone application pending closer examination of the tariff.