THE EPIDEMIC.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16431, 27 January 1919, Page 6

THE EPIDEMIC.

THE ROYAL COMMISSION,

SITTINGS TO BEGIN NEXT

MONTH,

The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health, stated on Saturday that Cabinet had finally passed the order of reference for the Royal Commission on tho influenza epidemic, and it would be submitted for the signature of his Excellency tho GovernorGeneral in Executivo Council tomorrow. Until . (so signed tho Minister was unable to make it public. "I may go as far as to say," added Mr Rufisel], "that when, the text of the order of reference is published, the public will seo that there is every intention that tho fullest equiry shall be made into the epidemic and also into the relations of the Public Health Department to the local bodies of the Dominion arising out of the unfortunate visitation." . The commission will probably begin its sittings early next month. RELIEF FOR SUFFERERS. The Minister fully explained the 6teps taken to afford relief to the sufferers from the epidemic. A very large number of applications had been received from suitable persons who desired to adopt orphans rendered so by tho epidemic. As the Department of Education administers the Infant Life Protection Act, the care of .these orphans had- been placed under its control. As to and widowers (rendered so by the epidemic) it was impossible to adopt a universal pension; Hospital Boards had been instructed to deal with each case on its merits, a limit being placed on the payment in respect of children at 10s 6d per week, and in special cases at 15s. The Wel r lington, Christchurch, and other Hospital Boards had assured him that tho scheme of relief 03 at present laid down was working quito satisfactorily. It wag his intention to allow a little time to elapse to see how the present tentative schemes workod before any castiron lines were decided ution. As to widowers (rendered so by the epidemic) the Minister referred to the differences in individual cases: In tho case of a man, earning £4 per week, left with four children, it was considered that he was earning sufficient to adequately provide for his family; in the case of a man, earning £3 per week, left with children, there had been no hesitation in allowing from 20s to 25s to assist him in securing the services of a housekeener.