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46
Burial or Cremation of the Dead.
Under the provisions of Section 50 of the National Assistance Act,
1948, it is the duty of the City Council as a Sanitary Authority to cause
to be buried or cremated the body of any person who has died or is
found dead in the area, where no other arrangements have been made
for the disposal of the body.
The Council is empowered to recover the cost of burial from the
estate of the deceased, and as from the 5th July, 1949, is eligible to
receive payments in respect of the cost of such burial from death grants
payable under the provisions of the National Insurance Act, 1946.
Some 70 per cent. of the cost of all burials carried out during the year
has been recovered from these sources.
Where persons without known relatives die in the City, it is frequently
necessary not only to arrange for their burial, but to dispose of the
contents of their homes. This course is necessary to enable the proceeds
to be applied towards the cost of burial and also to avoid rent accruing
and to release the accommodation for housing purposes as early as
possible.

Coroner's Court and Mortuary.
In all 317 bodies were received in the Mortuary on Coroner's Warrants
by Police or Undertakers. There were 4 bodies admitted to await
burial.