INCREASE IN CREMATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19373, 10 July 1937, Page 5

INCREASE IN CREMATION

PREJUDICE DECLINING OTAGO INDICATIONS (Special to (lie Herald.) DUNEDIN, this day. In recent years the prejudice against cremation, which has existed for so long in the minds of a large section of the public, has gradually weakened, and though it is a little less than 10 years since the crematorium at Anderson’s Bay was first brought into use the annual number of cremations in Dunedin has in the intervening period increased threefold.

The first cremation at Anderson’s Bay took place on December 15, 1927, and between that date and March 31 of the following year only five bodies were received at the crematorium. In the next few years the figures rose until, during the 12 months ended in March of 1935, 44 cremations were recorded at the Town Hall. For the year 1935-1936, the total rose to 76. From March of last year until the end of June last, a period of 15 months, no fewer than 80 cremations were carried out.

The fact that the law which provided. that a person could not be cremated unless he expressed a desire to this effect in his will has now been altered to 'make the matter one entirely for the next of kin probably has had a considerable bearing on the increase. It is possible also that, with the new generation springing up the age-old and deep-rooted sentiment in favour of burial is gradually disappearing.