PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SEEKS REGISTRATION OF UNDERTAKERS

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 November 1946, Page 9

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SEEKS REGISTRATION OF UNDERTAKERS

Registration of funeral directors so that they would be responsible for the legal requirements at burials and cremations was advanced by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand when adopting the following clause from the Public Questions Committee's report: “That the Assembly approach the Government with view to securing the amendment of ‘The Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1924,’ and ‘The Statutes Amendment Act, 1936,’ by (a) making it compulsory for all who act as funeral directors to be duly registered and by making them responsible that the legal requirements preliminary to burials and cremations are met; <b) relieving ministers and others officiating in a religious capacity at funerals and cremations of all specific legal obligations, other than that of countersigning the legal authority presented to them by the funeral directors.” Moving the adoption of the clause, the Rev. P. G. Hughes (Wellington) said that the judgment of a magistrate in Hamilton was reversed after the police had appealed to the Supreme Court, the Judge ruling in effect that ministers of religion were responsible in a very specific sense for legal requirements when officiating at burials. The Judge also held that that the minister took an active, responsible, and authoritative part in the burial. “This fixes on ministers a responsibility that should not be theirs,” Mr Hughes added. “When asked to bury anyone a minister should not have to take any responsibility. There should be compulsory registration of funeral directors, and they should produce documents to show that all the requirements of the law had been met.”