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direct that the body be removed, at the cost of the sanitary
authority, to any available mortuary, and be buried within
the time limited by the Justice; and may, if it is the body
of a person who has died of an infectious disease, or if
he considers immediate burial necessary, direct that the
body be buried immediately, without removal to the
mortuary.
2. Unless the friends or relations of the deceased undertake
to bury and do bury the body within the time so
limited, it shall be the duty of the Relieving Officer to bury
such body, and any expense so incurred shall be paid (in
the first instance) by the Board of Guardians of the Poor
Law Union, but may be recovered by them in a summary
manner from any person legally liable to pay the expense
of such burial.
3. If any person obstructs the execution of any direction
given by a Justice under this Section he shall be liable
to a fine not exceeding five pounds.
I pointed out to the Committee that, as the Auditor of the
Local Government Board requires the law to be strictly adhered
to, there is great danger to the Public Health.
During the past outbreak of Small-pox, when it was known a
patient was dying from the complaint, arrangements were made,
that immediately the death had occurred the Undertaker should be
notified, and the body forthwith removed to the Infectious
Mortuary.
It is clear that no Justice will make an "Order" until death
has occurred, but if the death occurs say at 5 p.m. in the
afternoon, the body would have to remain on the premises until an
"Order" from a Police Court Magistrate could be obtained, and
should Sunday be the next day, the Courts are not open.