SCARLET FEVER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1845, 3 September 1913, Page 8

SCARLET FEVER.

SCARE IN THE HOUSE. HEALTH OFFICIAL'S METHODS, The fact tliat an habitue cf the Houm of Representatives has contracted scarlet fever and 'has been isolated occasioned a little discussion in Parliament yesterday afternoon. Some of the questions asked 'had a, direct bearing upon t'ho course taken by tho Health Department in tho matter. Mr. E. 11. Clark (Chalmers) gave notice of tho following question: "Whether it is a fact tliat a moniber of tho Press Gallery has been committed to an - infectious diseases hospital in Wellington, suffering from an infectious disease, and is t'ho Minister for Publio Health aware tliat another reportor who was a contact with the patient lias been denied the right to enter tho Press Gallery, but that 110 restrictions have been placed 011 his movements outside, and as this gentleman, is not recognised as a hermit, are tho people of Wellington not.entitled to some protection?" Following tliis question, Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) asked leave to ask a question of tho Minister for Public Health' without notice.' Ho asked what tho Health Department intended to do with tho case of scarlet fever mentioned. In tho Chamber itself they Jiad a member who had been in close contact with tho patient—some even understood him to have assisted tho patient to bathe, or at least to have ruubed him down, and rubbed himself down afterwards. This member was still going freely about in that Chamber, and amongst tho members as well. On tho other hand, two members of tho Press Gallery who had also como in contact were informed that they had better keep away from tho Press Gallery for somo time, but they were told that there Was no harm in mixing amongst the general public. Now, if there was any danger at all, they should havo been barred from going amongst the public . The Hon. R. H. Rhodes: Mr. Speaker, I must rise to a point of order. lam quite prepared to answer any direct question, but I submit the honourable member has no right to speak to tho question. . Mr. Speaker said that verbal questions nwet be concise. Mr. _ Witty: I am asking why one party Jb barred from going into tho Press Gallery whilst other contacts are allowed to mix freely in this House; and I am askiing what the Health Department is doing in t(ho matter; whether there is any danger i»n tho first place, and if there is any danger why there is this differentiation? Tho Hon. 11. H. Rhodes said that there was no risk of contracting tho dfisease -until tho patient began to peel. This, 110 believed, was accepted by reliable medical authorities. As a further precaution lie had that tho press room should be fumigated. Ho had not barred anyone from attending in that Chamber or anywhere elso. Tho fact was that: two newspaper representatives in tho Press Gallery, who had been in contact with the fever patient, were advised by the District Health Officer not to como to_ Parliament Buildings for a week. This advice was understood as an instruction, and was acted upon as such for_ one day. '■ Subsequently, when the District Health Officer was approached 1 , he said that while 110 thought it advisable for tho contacts to keep away from Parliament Buildings. 110 did not propose to niaka any ordter 'or take any action.