THE CITY COUNCIL AND CEMETERY FEES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9179, 20 April 1893, Page 3

THE CITY COUNCIL AND CEMETERY FEES.

•Sir, —I feel indebted to a writer in your paper of this morning for drawing public attention to what is known as the amended bylaws for Waikomiti Cemetery, now lying for inspection at the City Council Chamber. I share the surprise of the writer on learning that it. is the intention of that body to charge 5s more for the grave of a Protestant than for a Jew or Catholic. This extra charge is said to be necessary to pay the salary of a Protestant chaplain. The Jews and Catholics are to be free to do as they please, and have their own religious teachers, while Protestants having their own ministers are to be taxed to support a religious ollicial they do not need. 1 think 1 can sneak for all the non-Anglican ministers of this city, and aver they willingly give their services free of charge. What do people, therefore, want to be burdened with more expense at a time when working men feel the ordinary fees heavy enough ? I was one that protested against this kind of thing to the trustees of the Purewa Cemetery, who have also added what they call a cemetery fee of KM to every body that is buried there, to defray the expenses of a chaplain. lolliciate there free of charge, still my people and others have to pay this charge of 10s into the funds of the Anglican Church. All this increases the difficulties and struggles of the working classes, and in my judgment tends to discredit religion and to foster sectarian bitterness. If a denomination wishes to have a chaplain appointed, good and well; but don't let a secular or religious body of men dictate to all the rest, in violation of religious and civil freedom. I do hope the City Council will leave religion alone, and amend that bylaw out of existence, giving perfect equality to all classes of the community in the burial of their dead.—l am, &c. Jamks Blaikie, Auckland, April 19, 1893.