CREMATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13307, 13 October 1906, Page 3

CREMATION.

Sir,— notice the Wellington Cremation Society keep pegging away at the Governmcnt for a subsidy towards • their funds. What is th» r Auckland Society doing? It was only when a deputation 'waited on tho Premier recently • that many people got to know that, a society existed here. When does the society meet? < How collect funds? What amount have they in hand? Since we hear so little from the society, does it mean that the people of Auckland do not take any interest in this ancient and healthy mode of disposing of our dead? There are so many arguments in favour of cremation and so few against, that this apathy is hard to understand. If the cost is an objection, perhaps a few figures may be interesting. In 1903 a design with plans and specifications attached was submitted to the Dunediti Cremation Society; was considered suitable for that city; it came from Sydney through Dr. Mason, then health officer, and was approved by the. Council. The whole cost was about £1175, surely not a large sum. Now as to fuel. Half a ton of coke is sufficient for each cremation, and only one man is required to do the whole work. 1 might point out that in Leicester (England) the charge, for cremation is:' Residents, £2 2s; outsiders, £5 ss: while in Hull the .charge. /: is; Residents, £1 Is; outsiders, £3 3s; and each of these crematoriums pay. Surely this is cheaper than earth burial.' The Wellington Society lias over £300 in hand; the Auckland Society might let the public know how they stand financially.-' W. H. J. Bennett.