, 1888-08-15

HAS l6lU pIOIcIUy vi LIeduS Ill lCSdIu W
which disorders might be OccasiOned by
neglect to report, can the fines become
higher. He would now recommend the
Draft for adoption.
Ord Observation-Disclosures (StakemGnn)
said, the Draft mentions as one of the
Motives, that the administration will with
this Ordinance be better able to control
the reports of deaths but he believed that
there was an oversight in this respect for
the fines to secure the observance of the
Ell actments will be good enough, provided
the case be found OUT, but in case the
corpse has been inferred, it would be at
tended with much difficulty to come at the
right responsible party. 1t should be
made so that the Clerk should not bury
any corpse before he was convinced that
the report had been made at present
no such enactment exists for these Islands,
for Denmark d letter from the Royal Dan
ish Chancery contains a rule i'll that re-
spect, but it has not been extended to the
colonies; as far back as 1929 this question
has been asked ii the enactment just
named was applicable here, and to which
the ChanCery replied that it was net APP
plicable as COrpSeS here are decOmpoSed so
soon. In ChriStian,ted it has been the
practice that no corpse is inferred before
the Clerk of the Lutheran Church, who
was Gravediggpr receives a certificate that
the death has been reported, but there
is no obligation on the Clergymen in that
respect; he thought it might be good fit
we're made obligatory also on Clergymen
of all denominations to demand certificate
of report, before they perform the ceremony
over the corpse, under penalty Of fines for
observance. If such Il clause were
entered that would require some alterations
III l especially in view of the term OF 48
hours allowed for making the report; the
term would have to be reduced. He would
beg to draw attention to this matter. AS
regards the duty of reporting, and men
toned in ., under the old regulations the
duty d%evolvei ON the party living or Occu-
plying the property; it would seem to be
rather hard to impose that duty on the
house owner. who cannot be supposed to
have knowledge of what tranSpircS on his
place, and who moreover might be absent,
in WeStend or St. Thomas.
The Vice Governor said The Government
had had Cognizauce OF the two Chancery
Letters, mentioned by the LAST honorable
Speaker, when framing this Draft, but he
had no objections against considering
what the honorable Member had SAID with
regard to section /, before the matter
comes on for Bird discussion. So much he
would say now, that sometimes corpSeS are
buried without the assistance of a Clergy
man, especially in remote districts this is
not OF rare occurrence. Objections had
been raised to : J, because it is incumbent
on owners to report but in this respect
the Draft is entirely in keeping with what has
been adopted in the Ordinance regarding
births; and he felt sure that nOPolicemaSter
would condemn an absent owner for not re-
portinga case of death on his properly, we
must certainly rely on the discretion Of the
Official.
3rd Member for Christiansted (StakemannN
said it is not left to the discretion of the
Police; the 4th s preScribes that cases of
neglect to report shall be punished by
fines.
The Vice G0UernOr: But the P0licemas.
ter has power to acquit those who are not
guilty of neglect.
3rd Member for Christiansted's Country
District (LeeuyJ said, that as a rule we find
here obligations of this kind laid on the
shoulders of those who should not have
them. II thought that the duty of report.
ing deaths should be laid on the relatives
and others connected with the deceased.
3rd Member for Chri d(Stakemann):
The Council has already voted for the
Ordinance on reports of Births in
the same manner as row proposed. But
as many parties are buried without clergy
men. perhaps the Government Would nrp.