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43
DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD
Burial Grounds
There were no changes during the year in the provisions for the
burial of the dead, particulars of which were set out in the Annual Report
for 1954.
Cremation
By Section 5 of the Cremation Act, 1902, no crematorium buildings,
chapels and parts of grounds set aside for the disposal of ashes may be
constructed nearer to any dwelling house than two hundred yards, except
with the consent of the owner, lessee or occupier of such house, nor
within fifty yards of any public highway, nor in the consecrated part of
burial grounds. The construction placed by the Minister of Housing and
Local Government on the word " crematorium " is making it difficult to
use the Harrow Weald site for this purpose.
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.
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.
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 arrangement by which bodies from the Wembley area should be
received in the Corporation mortuary at a charge of £2 each pending the
provision of a new mortuary in Wembley was continued.
During the year 424 bodies were received in the mortuary, 164 of
these being from Wembley. Post-mortem examinations were carried out
on all the bodies admitted. Inquests were held on 80.