FEAR OF INFECTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 17, 15 October 1918, Page 4

FEAR OF INFECTION

BERTHING OF OVERSEAS SHIP PROTESTED AGAINST. The' following telegram reached the Mimsterof Public Health (the Hou. G. W. Russell) yesterday from tho secretary of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union:— "The Auckland Watehide Workers' Union emphatically protests against tho berthing, of an overseas ship at Queen's Wharf, thereby incurring gravis risks of infection of the population _ of Auckland city and the whole-Dominion. Wo consider that iit' the interests of. the public, in general this vessel should have been placed in quarantine for a period of fourteen days, more partica- > iarly a.s there had already been one death aboard." The Minister of Public Health sent the following reply:— "Your telegram received. In reply I beg to say that all necessary precautions were taken. *. The Port Health Officer was ordered not to clear tho vessel.until 1 was informed: (I) The number of deaths (if any); and (2) whether or not tho illness on board vas simple influenza such as was already prevalent in the Dominion. -Tim replies received were.that one death had occurred the day before from' bronchopneumonia, and that the sickness was simple influenza. In view of theso facts the ship was ordered to be cleared, as. placing her in quarantine would not liavo been justified." >