View report page

154
however, the idea of placing the Mortuary in this position
grew into favour, and was ultimately accepted as the solution of
the difficulty. A question has been raised, whether one Mortuary
is sufficient for this large parish ? Without committing myself
to a final answer to this question I would point out that the
Mortuary site is central, and at no very great distance from any
part of the parish. It is the fact, moreover, that, once a body
has to be removed, the cost is much, if not quite, the same
whether the distance be a hundred yards or a couple of miles. I
could not recommend your Vestry, therefore, to entertain the
question of a second mortuary until the present building had been
proved to be of insufficient capacity, or inconvenient in position.
It is a real difficulty to get people to avail themselves of the
accommodation furnished by a mortuary ; this difficulty, however,
I have always felt would be, to a certain degree, overcome
by the sacred associations connected with the site on
which your Vestry's Mortuary is placed. I trust the building
will be used, and that it will prove a benefit to our poorer
parishioners, who are now often condemned, in following an
unwise custom, to retain their dead for many days in rooms
occupied, by day and night, by the living. No doubt it will
take some time to accustom them to appreciate the value of the
Mortuary, but I hope that the good advice of medical men,
clergymen, district visitors, parochial officers, &c., whose
aid I have invoked, will be enlisted in the development of
sound sanitary views on the subject.
Your Vestry's Works, Sanitary and General Purposes Committee
requested me to prepare a code of regulations for the
guidance of parishioners and others with regard to the
Mortuary and the post-mortem room, and rules prescribing the
duties of the Mortuary Keeper. My draft having been carefully
considered by the Committee, approved, and reported
to your Vestry, was referred to the Law and Parliamentary
Committee, and after revision by that Committee, was, with
one or two minor alterations, finally adopted by your Vestry on
the '28th Febi-uary last, as follows ;—