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121
Cremation.—The burial of the dead has for centuries
past, in the great majority of cases, been carried out by
laying the remains in cemeteries.
The cemeteries are scattered throughout the country
and occupy much land in the midst of residential quarters.
The law provides that no ground not already used as or
appropriated for a cemetery shall be used for burials
within the distance of 100 yards from any dwelling-house
without the consent of the owner, lessee and occupier of
such dwelling-house, but there is no law to prevent the
building of dwelling-houses close to an established burial
ground.
It has been suggested that cemeteries are unhealthy;
whether that be so or not, the modern method of disposing
of the dead by cremation is being adopted much more
frequently than in the past.
This method is one that commends itself to all sanitarians,
and I have no doubt that ultimately cremation
will be universal.
The filling up of open spaces, which are often valuable
sites and would provide accommodation for hundreds of
houses, is a question that must sooner or later receive
the attention of those responsible for the well-being of
this country.
The advantages of cremation are both sanitary and
economical. Cremation is the best method of disposal of
the dead. Regard to the common welfare is a powerful
incentive to cremation.
No one can ponder upon cremation without realising
how much preferable it is to that of earth burial.
The necessity of maintaining a grave is dispensed with.
The practice of burying several bodies in a common
grave is most objectionable, especially when it is remembered
that the remains bear no relation to one another.