Funeral Costs Under Fire

Northern Advocate, 22 February 1939, Page 8

Funeral Costs Under Fire

I Special to “Northern Advocate ” 3 WELLINGTON, This Day. In the Arbitration Court yesterday, a native widow, Kuti Haata, claimed £9BB compensation and £SO funeral expenses, from Downer and Co., Ltd. Plaintiff’s son, Te Huri Haata, aged 28, was killed while working, on the Porirua road on January 10, 1938. Carlton Lewis Charles Greer, associated with his father in an undertaking business at Wellington and Porirua, said his firm conducted deceased’s funeral at a cost of £4B 19/-. Mr Cecil Prime, employers’ representative, asked what the cost price was of the fittings on the casket. ' Details of Costs. Witness said that the handles would cost about £3, and there were inside fittings costing about £2 to £2 10/-. The total cost of the casket was £3O; Mr Prime: That’s £5 10/-, leaving £24 10/- for the polished rimu box. further questioning, witness; stated that the cost of the box wass about £4 or £5. % Mr Prime: That’s £9 10/- or £lo* leaving you a profit of £20., Do you think it a fair profit? “Fair Enough Profit.” Witness: It’s a fair enough profit. l Undertakers have. a lot of bad debts, j Evidence was given : by George Ka- i

tene, head of the Morman Church at Porirua Pa. Deceased, he said, was a saint. He did not drink or smoke, go to the races or play billiards. His • Honour: Is it an offence to smoke? Many ladies do it. “We think it is,” witness said. The tangi cost £27. He paid £l7, and the rest was obtained by voluntary contributions. Tangi on Loan System. Later witness said that everything was on the loan system. The first thing done was to assist people by giving £5 or £lO to carry the tangi through, because they always got the money bank somehow, either through the Native Land Court or the Native Trustee. “Its the only time you get money .when people die,’’ witness added, “They are only too willing then,” Decision was reserved.