CREMATION FAVOURED

Southland Times, Issue 20525, 29 June 1928, Page 7

CREMATION FAVOURED

MEETING IN CHRISTCHURCH. (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, June 28. A movement has been afoot for some weeks dor the establishment of a crematorium in Christchurch. Point has been given to the agitation because of the necessity of acquiring additional land for a cemetery. A meeting held a week ago was so poorly attended that it was postponed and at another meeting to-night, 50 a, tended. The medical officer of health and other medical men, some personally and some by letter, declared strongly for cremation. The only clergyman present was the Rev. Charles Perry who declared himself an AngloCatholic and he urged that even those who believed in the resurrection of the body need not for that reason oppose cremation as there was no intense difference between destruction of the physical body by burning and dissolution by decay. The medical men present remarked on the dangers of burial in that it increased the risk of the spread of virulent disease germs, some of which might remain active in the ground for ten years.

Dr. Thacker agreed that additional safeguards would have to be provided in cases of cremation to ensure that evidences of a crime of murder might not be destroyed. Mrs Fraer, wife of an Anglican clergyman, also favoured cremation and on her motion a resolution was agreed to urging the City Council favourably to consider the question of establishing a crematorium.