EPIDEMIC FUNERALS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 217, 7 June 1919, Page 8

EPIDEMIC FUNERALS

Sir,—ln your issue of June 3 you have an article "referring to tho non-iwyment of epidemic funerals, and as you have placed the matter before the public ptriiapj it would not bo out of placo for nio to make the position ;nor« clear. First, 1 should like to refer you back to t.ho various reports concerning tho high prices demanded in other towns for funerals; if I 'remember right, J.l r i was asked and cash- demanded before funerals would he undertaken, and ,vhere the money was ilot: forthcoming 'jhuit; reiusul was met with to carry on (he work. Tliu result was—ivcll, make inquiries of what happened in Auckland.. About, this, if you turn up your .November files you will find that the .Minister nt Publio Health had a lot. to say of want ho was going to do in the matter, oic. Now the epidemic, was raging in Auckland .some days before it gripped Wellington, and the conditions were known, thus giving fair warning to the rest of the Dominion of what to expect and what to prepare for. With the conditions ot Auckland before him, any sane, reasonable ,innn with tho least remnant of business ability would havo made provision for any emergency.. Ho would nave called not. only tho imdertukcir, but tho medical profession, chemists, nili'scs, etc., together, discussed ways and .ncau«, Used (j l 0 prices, olc., and come to a thorough understanding as to what was jo be demo nud the cost, thus liot only *,\fogmirding the public, but also mnkinjr ;t quite clear to all concerned what they wore to receive for services rendered., 'ibitj was not done, but tho following insliuctionn were received from Mr. J, P. Luke awl Colonol Mngill personally That wo worn to carry out nil funerals brought under our notice respectfully and decently, no mattor what tho pirson's financial, position was. Wo wens _ to spare no expense, as it was a question of grave importance "to the public health. Mr. J. P. Lnko on this occasion actcd as spokesman, Colonel Magill . agreeing to the arrangements, and knowing Mr. J. P. Luke personally, and having every confidence in hiiu, wo carried out cur part

of the, contract faithfully, reasonably expecting fair recompense I'o'r olir H'lvices, J.alcr, Major M'Cristall. wailed m us regarding the mailer of block s.i'.-lf'Mi. and it was made clear to liiui llial c would not, bury deceased persons as paupers or at pauper's rale, as'-wr did not: cater toi-l-hat clas-s uf work, and at, the saiuc Hum pointed on I: lliat there was an undertaker in Wellington who »l.id iimt class of work who was unilcr a bond lo carry it out. lie slnled (lint; lie did !.»f want I hem buried as paupers, mid I hat wo were lo curry on at our terms. 'I he position lo inn seems Hint if-the .Minister of Public Health wanted to run Iho epidemic on pauper lines lie should have fixed his prices before, not after, he had the. work done, or have passed t.li<; conIrol to the Charitable Aid Hoard to ileal with. as. they have I heir own rndertakei- ami a set. price for that class of work. Besides, they have the cxpeiienco of past years to guide them, this l was not done, ft seems I hat tile. Health Department ignored them, did the > rdcring with the lull glare of inc. limelight on Ihein, and when it comes to the settlement coolly t.ry to transfer then" re. sponsihililies to what lliey must think a more capable body.

Again, the friends were not given an opportunity to arrange! about the funerals of their relations. In some cafes they did not know until after the limra!. .Again, at the temporary hospitals they were lold that the Government vera meeting all expenses of the cjr.deuic, that the block system was in force,' mil tliat certain undertakers had lo do tertain eases, and would see that it vas doiie decently and free of cost. 'flm charges are reason-able; in fact, compared with tho charges made in other parts of the Dominion they aro more thani regulable. In fuel, one Government Department. the Defence Department, have ptirt for their burials the sum of ,£!) ss„ aid paid it long ago, giving the undoi-taler the opportunity of taking advantage >i all discounts. Then the difference of tie work of that; undertaker and those of Wellington is that he had all tlia-as-sistance he required rendered'by tlx: Defence Department such as gun carriage, bearers, etc., whilst the Wellington firms hail to pay for everything, suppiy n-oiirn-ers' carriages, hearses, minister.-;' fees, bearers, go in soine case.s as fariis I'orirua and Johnsonvillc, in fact, i:II over the city and suburbs, at all ;.oub of the day and night, and remove tl»■-bodies to tho mortuary chapel, and tlen conduct Che funeral to Karon and lay 15s. cenietery fees. The difference between tile price paid bv tho Defence Department and our claim to the Ileillii Department is i.'l 155., and Ibis for ill the extra, work and expense we were >nt to.

„\'o\v, Sir, our claim is i'or goods delivered mm valuable service?, renderel, and it is a fair and reasonable clain. In conclusion I would like to "ask- is t true that whilst the motor-car o'wniMvrau paid <£10 per day, tho Minister is offering tho doctors i:7 10s. ]«?r day hit' so, where is the justice? Tho ciir-wnors were paid far more Milan their tveraga private earnings, whilst tho doctoH were greatly underpaid. -Again, what'.about the future should another epidomo occur? Wlio irill have any Jailh ii a Department ran on such lines. ai;l who will suffer but the public? It i their money that pays, and even the nost.ignorant, oxpgjl.s honest, fair dulings. Taking the iTsks we all van from ii.fcctiou and tlie paltry amount of ..He juofit and the class .of work wo ing for, I think that it is a siiam; and a disgrace that there should be any bickering over the mailer, or .tlur wo should have to render our account Isic«. Thanking you for the valuable, siaco given,—l am, etc., C. M'INTVRi.:. Manager Jl. Morris, Juu