The Globe. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1875.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 223, 25 February 1875, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1875.

We sincerely trust that the example which was originally set in Adelaide as regards the reformation of the present expensive method of conducting funerals, will soon be mooted in Christchurch. Our news from Dunedin shows us that the subject has already received practical attention there. A society has been formed to be called “ The Funeral Reform Association,” with an almost nominal subscription. The objects of the Society are to endeavour to obtain decent burial for those who have been members at a price which shall not weigh heavily on the surviving relatives and friends of the deceased; and, also, to make a stand against the present system of parading grief, either real or assumed, by the wearing of mourning of an expensive and usually unsuitable nature. The meeting which is said to have been very unanimous in its ideas, was presided over by Bishop Neville, and many well-known citizens of Dunedin were present. That they appear to be practical in their manner of proceeding, may be judged from the fact that they have already entered into a contract with an undertaker to provide the necessary coffin, &c, in the case of a death, for the modest sum of four pounds ten shillings. This is a step in the right direction, as this sum is comparatively speaking a mere trifle to the amount which is ordinarily paid to the undertakers for the plainest of funerals. With regard to the question of mourning, it would appear that a very large majority of the meeting were in favour of the rational motion which was brought forward on the subject, but we regret to notice that Mr Cargill, one of the best known and oldest residents of Dunedin, could not agree with the rest of the meeting, and in consequence retired from the association. This, of course, is the more to be regretted because Mr Cargill is a man of great and wide-spread influence, but even in spite of his retirement we shall look forward to the association being successful in the end. No doubt there will be found in Christchurch opponents to the plan of a similar association to that just started in Dunedin ; but we are quite certain that if some two or three of our best known citizens were to take the matter in hand, a society having the same views as those of the Dunedin Association would be started at once with every prospect of success.