THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1878, 11 October 1913, Page 6

THE HOUSE.

The Houße of Representatives met at •g.30 p.m. EPIDEMIC IN HAWKE'S BAY. MORE COMPLAINTS. Mr, H.. M. CAMPBELL (Hawkers Bay)' asked the Minister of Publio Health whether ho was satisfied that the reported case of smallpox at Paki Paki was really smallpox. Ho stated also that, while taxi-cab drivers in Hast'ings' were''forbidden to carry Maoris, jthose outside the borough were permit]ted not only to oarry peoplp, out to itako them to and from Hastings. The 'whole of the picture shows in Hastings •were prohibited from.taking in Maoris, but other shows in tho immediate neighlourhood wore allowed to .do so.

Mr. G. HUNTER (Waipawa) mentioned a report by tho Napier correspondent of The Dominion that a case of suspected smallpox had occurred at Te Haulto. Tho ohief of the Public Health Department, Mr. Hunter remarked, ,was then on his way to Napier, and he suggested that Dr. Valintine should ho asked te make inquiries into Ithe Te Haukei case. A number of tho ■Natives at To Hauke, he Btated, would I shortly be scattered over a wide area Engaged in shearing operations, unless steps Were taken to prevent them travelling.' , , Tho Hon. R. H. RHODES said that he 3iad no information whatever about the reported outbreak at Te Hauko. He had telegraphed to Dr. Valintine asking him to make inquiries and on receiving a report 'would communicate • with Mr. Hunter. As to the Paki Paki ' case there seemed to be some doubt, as ■to whether it was smallpox or not. For that reason he had. given instructions to jtho Chief Health Officer, on tho preI vious night, to proceed to Hawke's Bay j and make inquiries. .As,.to the taxifcabs, uniform instructions had been sent and they should have been carried out in Napier as well as in Hastings. .- '

An official diagnosis of the case at ' Te Hauke is to the effect that it is not | smallpox. This information was received .last evening by the Hon. R. IH. Rhodes (Minister of Public Health) |from Dr. Valintine (Chief Health Oilier) who is at present in Hawke's Bay.