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Enquiries locally showed that the majority of Council house tenants were using
smokeless fuels where grates are designed for the purpose. Every effort is made
by the Council to discourage the use of bituminous coal. Whilst in sympathy with
the above resolution, the Council felt that, in view of the above position and owing
to present difficulties generally, and especially the higher cost of smokeless fuels,
no further action could be taken in the matter.
Mortuary.
Public mortuary facilities are provided at the Council's premises at Sunbury
Street. These facilities have been little used in recent years owing to the centralisation
of Coroners' Courts in London.
Exhumations.
There was one exhumation carried out during the year, on the authority of an
Exhumation Licence issued under the Burial Act, 1857. All the necessary precautions
to safeguard the public health were observed.
Burial or Cremation of the Dead.
Under Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, it is the duty of the
Council as sanitary authority to arrange for the burial or cremation of any person
who has died, or been found dead, in their area, where it appears to the Council
that no other suitable arrangements have been or are being made. Expenses incurred
in such burial may be recovered from the estate of the deceased person or from a
"liable relative."
During the year 1950 the Council arranged for the burial of 10 persons, in
each case there being no known relatives of the deceased or the relatives being unable
to defray the private funeral costs. The total expenses in respect of the cases
amounted to £72, of which £29 was recovered.
Cemeteries.
Three cemeteries are owned by the Woolwich Borough Council and administered
by the Town Clerk's Department. These are situate at Eltham and Plumstead,
the two in Plumstead being known as Woolwich Cemetery and Plumstead Cemetery.
Roughly, each cemetery serves the area after which it is named.
The following table gives details of interments during the last three years at
these cemeteries:—

Proposed Joint Crematorium.
The Council in 1939 decided to establish a crematorium in Eltham Cemetery
jointly with the Boroughs of Bexley and Erith and the Urban District Council of
Chislehurst and Sidcup, but owing to the war the Council could not proceed.
The Crayford Urban District Council have since been included in the scheme.
The Borough Council has made several approaches to the Minister of Health
for sanction to proceed with the scheme, but in view of the need for economy in
capital expenditure such sanction has not been forthcoming.
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