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HALIFAX DISASTER RECORD OFFICE
ARCHIBALD MACMECHAN, F.R.S.C.
DIRECTOR
HALIFAX, N. S.

The Mortuary Committee.
Probably the greatest task of the entire work of relief was that which fell to the Mortuary Committee. Here was a branch of the work which not only demanded of the workers a working day of far more than its normal length, but one with which sorrow and grief were indissolubly linked. At all times did this Committee discharge its delicate duties with the most admirable sense of what was fitting and right under the circumstances as well as with an executive finesse that did much toward removing the business sense which would at that time have jarred so cruelly on those seeking missing relatives and friends. Inquiries were handled by literally thousands, while each additional published list of unidentified dead brought claimants for the remains which had to be properly classified that others fears might be set at rest. on this committee were A. S. Barnstead, Dean McRae of Dalhousie, F. F. Mathers, Dr. Finn and R. H. Williams.
So many requests came as to the safety of friends and relatives, that an Information Bureau was instituted under the Chairmanship of J. C. Stredder and A. M. Smith. In this department of the work, particularly in the early stages, a regular army of willing workers were employed, and by this means, prompt replies were given to all enquiries. Through the agency of this department many lost ones were restored to friends and those outside the city given assurances that settled their doubts as to those they were seeking information of. Information was granted on a total of 18,541 persons. In a total of 6,377 enquiries received by letter and telegram, 5,950 were given definite replies, and in only 427 cases were they unable to give any assistance. Enquiries were received from all over Canada, United States, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Denmark, Honolulu, Jamaica, Bermuda, New Zealand, Italy, Australia, Channel Islands and Newfoundland.

The Registration Committee.
The work of the Registration Committee under the chairmanship of A. D. McRae was performed during the first few days of almost entirely volunteer workers from the United States and Canada, but on December 12th. the Rehabilitation Committee was appointed under the chairmanship of D. Macgillivray who was forced to resign on the 24th of the month owing to pressure of his other duties and J. H. Winfield was appointed in his place. The duties of these committees were merged and registration carried on as a sub-department.
Up to the first of February 1918 there were 5,646 registrations for relief of which 693 proved to be duplicates leaving about five thousand claims of which nine per cent were merely claims for damages Every family needing relief has been visited at least once by those attending to the work of the committee with the exception of 67. It is estimated that 15,000 visits were made by workers in order to make such necessary enquiries and supply relief as required. Applications were received from residents from 229 of the 328 streets in the City. Orders were issued for necessaries on the various committees who had the direct distribution of supplies. During January 4,000 were supplied on order through this department and as the average applicant received relief from four different committees the workers of the department supplied approximatly 16,000 orders. From the end of December until the first of February the department issued 6,806 food orders aggregating $52,000 in value. Commencing February first it was decided that cash allowances were preferable to the order system and a change to that basis made.
The Employment Committee with Captian Kneale and T. J. N. Meagher at its head received over 600 applications form people requiring permanent employment and with the assistance of over 100 workers who placed themselves at their disposal over 500 of this number, were placed in permanent berths.
Up to and including January 31st 1918, the Finance Committee under the chairmanship of G. S. Campbell disbursed from the funds forwarded for the purpose of Halifax relief, $731,166.01 from a total available at the time of approximately $3,000,000.
Of the work of the General Relief Committee which asumed the control of the situation and formulated the plans which governed the actions of the various other committees with R. T. MacIlreith as chairman and R. P. Bell as his efficient aide little need be said to give the average citizen a full and comprehensive understanding, that their task was great. So well was their work planned and so well had they thought ahead of the great task that confronted them that the greatest acknowledged efficiency experts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ratified their method

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MG 1 vol 2124 number 292c