COST OF FUNERALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1919, Page 5

COST OF FUNERALS.

MINISTER'S STATEMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, Feb. 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. W. Russell, when speaking to a conference of local bodies 10-nigbt. "The time is coming for funeral returns," said the Minister. Ho 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, the 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 bead for pauper funerals during the epidemic. We made inquiries, and found that the cost of timber sufficient for a coffin ranged from 15s 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 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.