COST OF FUNERALS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 119, 13 February 1919, Page 4

COST OF FUNERALS

MINISTER'S STATEMENT. By Telegraph—Preßs Association. 1 Wanganui, February 12. A suggestion by the "Mayor that the Government should look into the question of the cost of funerals led to an interesting reply by the Hon. G. AV. Russell, when speaking to a conference of local bodies to-night. "The time is coming for funeral returns," said the Minister. He had occasion during the epidemic to go closely into the _ question. Hospital boards had a scale price to pay undertakers for people buried as paupers, tho price ranging from .£2 10s. to .£3 per funeral. "I do not want to say too much on this point, as the matter is being discussed with one public body at the present moment, who took it into their heads to pay .£9 15s. per-head for pauper funerals during tho. epidemic. Wo made inquiries, and found that the cost of timber sufficient for a coffin ranged from 15s. to 21s. I have had an ac- • count for .£l9 for the funeral of a person who died without 'estate. The relatives coolly asked the Government to' pay the amount. I believe we will have to legislate as to prices, and if people like to pay more it will be their responsibility. In the event of another epidemic prices of funerals would be fixed under war regulations.