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took place on the possibility of erecting the crematorium on the Harrow
Weald site. It is not an infrequent occurrence for the crematoria near
this district to be unable to meet demands, with resulting delays. This
points to the need for more accommodation being provided. An
authority of Harrow's population and financial resources ought to be
able to provide this service not only for those in the district but for
adjoining areas. Districts such as this with only limited land now free
for any purpose ought to take what steps they can to ensure that the land
required for burial purposes is not obtained out of that which would
otherwise be put to health-giving purposes. A sum has been provided
in the schemes of capital development for the erection of a crematorium
within a five-year period.
Burial
Under Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, the Council
can arrange for the burial or cremation of any person who has died
or has been found dead in their area if no other suitable arrangements
are being made. The Council decided that in such circumstances the
body should be transferred to the mortuary, and enquiries should be
made as to the person or persons likely to be responsible for the burial
of the body and where such cannot be found that arrangements should
be made for the burial. For this purpose arrangements were made with
one of the undertakers in the district.
The County Council decided to exercise its powers in regard to the
burial of any deceased persons who had been living in accommodation
provided by them. The only establishments of this nature in which
there are persons for whose cost and maintenance the County Council is
responsible is the home of the Harrow Housing Society at Pinner House,
Church Lane, Pinner.
Each year there has been a small number of requests for these arrangements
for burial to be made. In this last year the number was only two.
Exhumations
Licences for the removal of human remains are granted by the
Home Secretary under powers contained in Section 25 of the Burial Act
of 1857. Copies of Licences issued are forwarded to the Local Authority.
When the exhumations take place, a representative of the Health Department
is present.
One exhumation was carried out in the district during 1954.
Mortuary
The district is served by the one mortuary at Peel Road, which is
under the care of a full-time mortuary attendant, Mr. C. Russell, of
30, Lome Road, Wealdstone. The number of admissions to the mortuary
fluctuates in the course of the year, being heaviest in the winter months
when deaths are more frequent. With the growth of the population
the facilities at the mortuary were at times strained so the Council decided
in 1951 to enlarge it. The mortuary now has four slabs and is provided
with two refrigeration chambers capable of receiving six bodies. The