THE DELPHIC CASE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1835, 22 August 1913, Page 8

THE DELPHIC CASE.

e TRACKING STEVEDORES. 1 HARDSHIP ON SHORE GANG. THE NIGHT ON BOARD. COMPLAINT TO MINISTER. Tracking the stevedores who worked cargo on board the Delphic on Monday last has not been successful. At least iorty men who worked on board the ship have not presented themselves for vaccination. A notice from the Department has been displayed for the last two days on Hie wharf, warning workers ol' the dangers which they (and members of their families) are running, but it seems to have had little offect. A medical officer visits the wharf waiting-shod twice daily to vaccinate workers who wish to submit themselves, but lie is by 110 means besieged by applicants. The case of the wharf labourers who were engaged 011 the coal-hulk Adderiev is different. These men wero detained on board tho vessel, and were not allowed 011 shoro until they had been vaccinated, and had promised that tho members of then* households should bo similarly treated. The Department has found litt e difficulty in having the latter part of the agreement complied with. One of the principal dangers in connection with the other workers is that they may now ijo engaged in working other vessels, since they left the Delphic. If danger is present—as , th<s officers of the Department think that it is—the community is not being faiMy treated by those men wlw may havo been contacts in this coso. The letter which the Mayor of Wellington'(Mr. J. P. Luke) sent to the Minister for Public Health (Hon. R. H. Rhodes) was answered yesterday. Mr. Rhodes states:—"l quite concur with you that' tho introduction of a case of smallpox into Wellington per tho s.s. Delphic Js iv matter of much concern to tho people of this city and district, as you pointed ont. in your letter of. yesterday. I should bo glad if you could arrange an interview with me at such time as may be convenient, when the Question of further precautions may be fully discussed. I shall instruct the Deputy-Chief Health Officer to be in attendance."

THE SHORE GANG. THEIR TRYING N'tGIIT ON BOARD. COMPLAINT TO MINISTER, A protest against the treatment of some of their members who were compelled to 6pentl the frosty hours of Monday night on the deck of the Delphic was made' to the Minister for Public Health (tho Hon. If. H. Rhodes) l>y a deputation which waited upon him last night. Messrs. H. Atmore and P. C. Webb,' M.P.'s, introduced tho deputation.

Complainants Describe the Night. • Several speakers alleged hardship. Not only hod thoy been compelled to stay on board, hut they had been compelled to spend tlhe time under great discomfort. They had been given hard-biscuit and .bully-beef for their evening meal, given no blankets or any such comforts during the night, and in the morning, not wishing to have to put up with a repetition, of the hard fare of the previous evening, they lvad ordered and obtained their breakfasts from' a caterer in the city. They' alleged that.the Health Department had been carolers. in allowing tie vessel to come alongsido with a mail suffering from smallpox on hoard, and afterwards, when the case had been diagnosed, in failing to-make reasoii.Tble provision for the men detained; They asked that this sort of tiling should not occur again. Unless tihuy were assured tliat it would not, tho won detain::*) 'would refuse to stay, but "have a go for it," in preference to" freezing a night through on a ship's deck. It wa? alle.ged that Mr. l'ollen was on board the shin earlier in the day, and that lie nvust have seen tho man with the rash on his face. The -wlutrf labourers working cargo on the ship noticed him, and there was talk amongst them as to wSiat ■the. man's disease was. In these circumstances the ship's officers must havo known that his ease was at least suspicious. Further, it was alleged that tho man had coino on boai'd at Auckland just bef'oro the sliip left, and had not been examined bv a medical officer in tho same way as all the rest of the crew. Complaint was made also that a health officer .had directed the wharf labourers to go out on the Delphic into the stream and coal the ship. This they refused to do. They asked the Minister to have inquiry made as to how one of his officers came to give the instruction. Finally they askejl that the men comjnilr-orily k<>pt on board the ship should be recompensed for that time. Generally they urged that such more stringent precautions as might bts necessary to keep tho port clean should bo taken by tho Department. It was claimed that the Depa rtnir'nt had been lax in carrying out necessary precautions sinco the occurrence. The man htul - carried the hulk-keeper's child up tho gangway, and tho Health Officer had not taken the trouble to go on to tho hulk to vaccinate the lvulkkeeper's family. The Minister Sympathetic, Tho Minister, in reply, stated that no one regretted more than ho did that this had occurred. lie sympathised with tho men, who, ho knew, had had a hard night. Ho was sorry indeed that it hnd occurred. It was a mistake that tho men were not supplied with blankets. The Health officer understood that they would receive quarters, a ml that was how the mistake occurred. When a case of this sort occurod, some hardships were to be expected. Tho men could havo left the vessel, but they regarded the matter in the right light and stayed. This was very much to their credit, and ho thanked them for it. He had had lots of similar instances to the credit of the Maori race in putting up with hardships, and lie was sure that, if tho need arcse, tho watersido workers would do tho same. One or two of the points brought up ho would have to look into. 'They had said that tho Health Officer had told them to coal the ship. The Health had no authority to do that, and he (tho Minister) would have to look into the matter. Ho had licit had time to have an interview with tho Health Officer that day. It had been stated that the smallpox patient had carried the )iulk-keeper\s child up the gangway of tho ship. That had not been reported to the Health. Department. _ It was, of course, a very dangerous thins that this should have escaped notice, and he would havo inquiries made at once. The officers of the Department had been working very hard, and he thought'that tliev had discovered most of those people who had been in contact. If the waterskiers cmid help the Department in this, ho was sure they would do so. He would not admit carelessness in the part of tho Department. .All the precautions possible were taken in Auckland'to see that no infected persons left the port, but unfortunately this man seemed to have slipped through. The Port Health Officer at Auckland was doing his best to seo tliat slaps leaving Auckland wore free from the disease. . In reply to a question, tho Ministerexplained that a contact or a new arrival who refused vaccination could be put into quarantine, but, he would not bo compulsorily vaccinated. Pay for Time Lost. A member of the deputation repeated tho question about the payment of the men for time lost. They wished to knowwlm> would pay their wages. If they had been held by the ship, the ship would linvu paid th'eir ■wages. Tho Minister said lie did not wish th» men to suffor unjr hardship, and h» promised to mako inquiry as to what was the usual custom in such eases. NORTHERN REPORTS. ALL QUIRT IN AUCKLAND. (I!y Telejraph—Press Asnoeintion.) Auckland, August 21. Another day has passed without notification of a further case of the epidemic in the oily. This Dr. Monk considered very satisfactory, as it was the day for which juos t apprehension was felt being tho . twelfth day since tho last case was located

in tho city area, or the end of tho in- ] uibation period. It does not necessarily follow, however, that the epidemic has been stamped out altogether. "It is certainly a lull," said Dr. Yalintiuc,'Chief' Health Officer, "but there arc still chances thai; our hopes may 1,0 dashed to tho ground. What I deplore is the fact that the rush for vaccination lias ended, and ]. would strongly urge the benefits of this me.-t eliicient method of protection. One cannot blame tho people, who aro told bv some doctors that tho disc-ase. is not smallpox, but it is significant that those who have said so have not had any experience of tho present eases."' Tho District Health Officer received notification from Waipapakouri, nine miles from ICaitaia, that firo Maoris thero wero suffering from n disease which the doctor in the district diagnosed aa chickenpox. Koassuring reports were received from the Waikato, Otorohanga, Pnrmvora, Kaikolie, and a number of other centres. The District Health Officer has received about 20 bundles of old clothing from Auckland residents for the relief of Maoris whoso clothing has been burned for disinfection purposes. One citizen has also forwarded £5, to be used in relieving distressed Maoris, and the money will probably bo devoted to tho inmates of Kaikohc Isolation Hospital. THE POOR KAINGAS. HOW TO BELIEVE THE MAORIS. REPORTS OP DISTRESS. The case of Maoris in infected areas who aro likely to find themselves in retluced circumstances because of the aeelruction of their houses ftim clothing was discussed iiiNth'e House of Representatives yesterday. It was made clear also that the restrictions put upon tho -Natives moving out of their kaingas put them under a 'hardship, and limited their chances of earning a livelihood. The Hon. A. T. Ngata (Eastern Maori read the following telegram which ho had received from Dr. Rnngihiroa, now at Kaikohc:— "Not so many -acute cases of smallpox being reported. Havo been making efforts to work in with Maori Councils. The Marae Committee maintain the isolation of infected houses, especially on tlio borders of an affected district, 'to prevent any spread to unaffected' villages. The_ Maoris aro suffering from the restrictions. They fire unable to obtain work, and tliero . is danger of food supplies failing. The Department is endeavouring to as'sist, but there is still serious danger. I consider it my duty to remain longer to assist the cordon of .vaccination i drawn round the affected district. If Europeans desiro to assist I consider that a public Subscription would alio--viate, also donations in clothing, and help in tho work of disinfecting vil- . lages anxl tho destruction of infected clothing."

It seemed, continued Mr. Ngnta. that, tho matter had now- got beyond the resources of the Health Department, and demanded thj attention of the Native Minister and the Government as a whole. The Maoris-might 00110011-01115' bo put into a very serious plight by the prohibition against them moving, aud lie instanced n number of possiblo cases in which hardship might bo caused. Mr. G. W. Russell, Mr. G. W. llussell (Avon) stated that ho had re'ccived a communication from tho north, and lie wished also to impress upon tlio Governmdnt the necessity for doing something for tho Natives, unable as they now were by reason of tho cordon of police round their kaingas. Ho would suggest that tlio Government ask the Mayors of the big cities to invito public subscriptions, and that tho Government should put a vote on the Estimates for the purpose of alleviating the distress and to erect homes for the Natives whoso houses had been destroyed. The Minister's Answer. •The Hon. R. H. Rhodes replied. Ho believed that Europeans would readily subscribe to help members of the Native race. On a previous occasion, w-.hen Dr. Yalintine suggested that clothing would be acceptable, he was ridiculed ill the press, and asked why tho people should help the Natives. The Government, it was.said, must do everything. He' believed, however, that tho people would not wait for the Government, but would send

clothing and niohey too, if it was necessary. So far as Natives in want of food were concerned he might say that the Government was supplying t'lieni with food. He had given directions that no Nativo should be allowed to suffer in t'liis respect. After Dr. I'omarc had visited tho Waiknto he had reported to hiin that some houses would have to lie destroyed. He agreed. with that. Houses that could not be disinfected would be mere flhells, and' it would only be a trifle to replace them. He was having a full report made 011 these places, and tho Government would liavo to provide the necessary means. The Natives mentioned by Mr. Ngata would not l>o allowed to suffer. He was gted to say that some' of the Natives were taking' tlio position very well indeed, and were doing what tliey could to help their fellows. The Minister Mien road the. following telegram that he had received from nine Natives, wlm described themselves as "directors of works" in connection with tlio isolation hospital at I'arawera

"Wo desiro to inform you ill regard to tho hospital at Parawora that wo and our kind European friends are able to pay all tilio expenses of .tlio hospital beyond the doctor and nurses and medicines and incidentals. We n-ill pay for all the food for the invalids and firewood and -water, and for tho running of tho hospital."

Tlio following reply was scut 'by the Minister to this telegram"l have read your telegram with pleasure. I fully-ap-preciate the whole-hearted way .in wliich your people have responded to tho efforts inadio to protect them from this severe illness. I will see that tlio doctor and nurses and mcdicines and incidentals are paid for by tho Department. You all isave done your part well." .

Prime Minister's Remarks. Tho Prime Minister, speaking in reply to Sir. Russell, stated that whatever might be necessary could, he thought, be very easily do no indeed through tho Health Departmout. As Prime Jlinister he had received communications from sonio outside districts to the effect that matters wero very much more satisfactory now than they wero a few weeks ago. Too Near Their School. Last night, the- Wellington City Council passed the following resolution: ''Tho South Wellington State School Committee should bo informed that their resolution requesting the removal of the Smallpox Isolation Hospital from the South Wellington School district will be taken into consideration at an early date." THE SYDNEY EPIDEMIC. EMPIRE PARLIAMENTARY PARTY. By Telegranh—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. August 22, 0.30 a.m.) Sydney, August 21. Seventeen cases of smallpox linvp been reported to-day, including two in Oxlev (a country township), which an official accidentally stumbled upon while investigating the Balranald case. The latter is 'lot smallpox. The metropolitan cases include a let-ter-carrier, one of the few unvciccinatod eases.

A member of Hie Millions Club declares Hint the epidemic is causing a loss of ,£120.000 to Sydney. - "

Referring to tlio Empire Parliamentarians' sojourn in Sydney, a hralth official remarked Hint they would Ik> under 110 obligation to be vaccinated before arriving in Australia. Their leaving Australia would probably concern them most, if they still declined vaccination. (lite. August 22, 0.30 a.m.) Melbourne, August 21. Pome of Iho Empire Parliamentarians havo .sent a wirdoss m'oNwgo to say that they will not submit themselves to v«cciiwtion. Tli» Crovernmwit is ixTiilexed. Tin difficulty will probably result in only a small number of- ths party visiting Sydney.