NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, 14 February 1919, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

EPIDEMIC FUNERALS. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. WANGANUI, February 13. TLe suggestion of tlie Mayor of Wanganui that the Government should go into the question of the cost of funerals, led to an interesting reply by the Hon. G. W. Russell, when speak ing to a conference of local bodies tonight. “I do not want to say too much on this point,” said’ the Minister, “as the matter is being discussed with one public body at the present moment, who took into its hands to pay £9 15s per head per pauper funeral during the epidemic. We have made inquiries and found that the cost of timber sufficient for a coffin ranged from 15 s to 21s. I have had an account for £l9 for the funeral of a person who died without estate. The relatives coolly asked the Government to pay the amount. I believe w r e will have to legislate as to prices and if people like to pay more it will be their respbnsibility.- In the event of another epidemic,’ said Mr. Russell, “the prices of funerals will be fixed under the War Regulations.”

SCARCITY OF TIMBER.

RESTRICTION ON EXPORT.

APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT,

WELLINGTON, February 13. The high price of timber, accompanied by its great scarcity, is referred to in the annual report of the Wellington Builders and Contractors ’Association. The report states “Members: have been much exercised by repeated and numerous increases in the prices of ordinary .building timbers. These have so seriously increased in all parts of the Dominion as to warrant the Builders’ Federation in securing data and submitting it to flic Board of Trade and the Minister of Forestry, with an urgent request that immediate steps be taken to prevent further increases in prices, hnd tp prevent the draining of available supplies by export to Australia.” It is hoped the protest made will result in a price commensurate with the cost, of pro '

tion being fixed by tbe Government for different classes of timber. The rapid depletion of our forests gives cause for prompt steps being taken by the Government to adopt a scheme of systematic planting of forest trees for future supplies, and the Builders' Federation is active in urging upon the Government tEe need for this."