ASHES TO ASHES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19476, 11 May 1925, Page 7

ASHES TO ASHES.

SYDNEY'S CREMATORIUM. (From Ou.i? Own Cobeespondent.) SYDNEY, May 1. Before long the new crematorium will be in operation. The pioneers here of this system of disposing of the dead will be a couple of sheep. Upon the success or otherwise of the test will depend the date of the first human cremation in New South Wales. The crematorium is not likely to suffer for lack of business, for 300 people have already signified their wish to be cremated —not straight away, of course, but when the big gate of life is banged behind them and they slip into tho great unsolvabla mystery of death. The society which is behind the cremation movement is now pushing the sale of shares to finance the building of a chapel alongside the crematorium itself. Cremation certificate!; are being issued, entitling the holders to life membership, with comprehensive benefits, including the society’s funeral service and cremation at death, tho issue of certificates of cremation, and the return to tho relatives of tho ashes in a selected urn. It all sounds a bit grisly, but it is stated that even working men have been buying certificates with their savings. Should the holder of a certificate die abroad, bis cremation is assured at the nearest crematorium.