The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-20 00:00:00

KIDDERMINSTER.

BURIAL BOARD AND 'DMZ PIIBLIC.—A deputation Con-
sisting of Mr George Holdswortb, Messrs. Aston and
Cooke (representatives of the Carpet Weavers' Associa-
tion), Mr. Bytheway (representing the Oddfellows), Mr.
Yates (the Foresters), and Mr. H. Wright waited upon
the Burial Board on Wednesday last to protest against
a fine of 2s 6d being inflicted for every completed fifteen
minutes a funeral was past the time stated in the notice
of interment, and against 'tile 38, which enacted that no
interments should take place on Sundays, Christmas
Days, and Good Fridays, and thirdly against the fees,
which were said to be •• much too high and out of the
power of the poorer classes to pay."—Mr. Holdsworth
introduced the subject to the Board, and said that the
regulations referred to had taken everyone by surprise.
It was true the rules were laid before a vestry meeting in
the usual form, bat he for Dne did not then notice them.
The rule with reference to not permitting funerals on
Sundays was one which would press very hardly upon
working men, as they frequently had a difficulty in
getting permission to attend a funeral on ordinary work
days. The infliction of a fine of 2s 6d for being fifteen
minutes late was unnecessarily severe, and the fees
charged were exorbitantly high. He did not think there
were such restrictions in other cemeteries.—Other mem-
bers of the deputation followed in a similar strain, and
they also pointed out that the demand to pay the whole
of the burial fee at the time of giving notice of the
funeral was a restriction which would be a hardship to
many who had often to wait for the registrar's certificate
of death before they could get their money out of the
club to lhich the deceased belonged.—The Chairman
(the Rev. G. D. Boyle) pointed out to the deputation
that the fees were not excessively high as compared with
those of other cemeteries, and the price they had been
hitherto paying in the Kidderminster Burial Grounds
was much too low.—Mr. Parry said it would only have
been false economy to have made the fees so low that
the cemetery would not pay its own expenses. The fees
previously charged in Kidderminster were lower than
those paid in any other town, and were not remunera-
tive.—After the deputation left, the questions raised
were fully considered by the Board, and it was decided
to reduce the 2s 6d fine to is, and make the clergymen
and minister liable to it as well as those having inter-
ments. It was also resolved that in future funerals
should be allowed to take place on Sundays from half.
past two until four p.m. ; and that the superintendent
should be instructed to aceept a deposit of 2s 6d at the
time notice was given of an interment, with the under-
standing that the whole of the fee should be paid before
the funeral took place. The Board did not feel that
they could alter the fees, which were as low as they
reasonably could be.—Mr. James then again brought on
the question of permitting a crucifix or representation of
calvary in the Romeo Catholic portion of the cemetery.
At Worcester there was one 16 feet high, with a figure
carved upon it, and no objection had ever been raised
to it.—Mr. Herring moved that they allow this crucifix
to be placed where Mr. James wished to place it. It
would be on their Own ground, and he did not see any
objection —Mr. Parry: Some of these days you will
regret what you have done.—The Chairman said he
should not like to vote upon such a grave subject with-
out first consulting his bishop, and eventually the matter
was deferred.