CREMATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17572, 24 June 1925, Page 11

CREMATION.

METHOD NOT POPULAR. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, June 23. Cremation is much more talked about Ilian practised' in AucklandSine© the crematorium was opened at AA aikmncto in August, 1923, a total of seven!v bodies Jiavo been so disposed of.' The number of deaths in Greater Auckland since August 1. 1923. was 3333, cremation, therefore, repre.ll is not surprising that the percentage of cremations should bo so small. There uro many people who believe tho practico ot cremation is opposed to religious teaching, and ii i- a so revolutionary change that few people not. swayed by religious doubts uu the matter arc yet included lo depart from the old custom at. a time of deep, sorrow. Even if they arc prepared to consider the question in relation to themselves they are not inclined to consider it when it is their sad duty to arrange for the iuncra! of a. kinsman or friend. The arguments of the advocates of the method lose all their force in face of death. In most, if not in all cases, cremation is carried out at tho express wish of the deceased. For reasons on© ran but guess at, there have been at- Auckland where men have left instructions that their bodies should he cremated, and that the ashes should bo scattered to the lour winds. In one instanco the instruction was that part of tho ashes should be scattered lo tho winds, part, cast into the sea, and part buried in the ca rt !i. It lias been suggested that the extra cost of cremation has helped to limit its practice. The ordinary burial fee is .22. The charge for actual cremation is jL' I Is. but in addition £'2 2s lias to bo paid for two medical certificates, .10s (id for the certificate of a medical referee, and an. additional fee . for burial of the ashes or depositing them in a niche in th© building. Undertaking charges are tho same in cither case. The few extra guineas, however, cannot he regarded as the chief reason for tho general adherence i:> the earth burial .system. Th© real reason doubtless is a feeling of revulsion at the thought of the consumption of the body by fire, combined with a deep-rooted prejudice against changing the mode of the sad and sacred rite. Tho experience of Auckland is the history of cremation everywhere it has become possible. Although the cremation Society of England is now in its fifty-second year, ii has l>ocn instru- | mental in establishing only fiftec tt crematoria up to 1.923, and the number of cremations represents an almost negligible proportion of the number of deaths. Started first at AYoking, in 1885, cremations averaged, only 150 a year for the first thirteen years. In 1900 the total number of cremations in England was 444. and there has been a very slow increase, the total for 1923 being 1980. The total lor thirty-seven years was only 29.415.