SEAMEN AND INFLUENZA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 49, 22 November 1918, Page 6

SEAMEN AND INFLUENZA

FUMIGATION OF SniPS. At a special emergency- meeting of the head office executive of the Federated Seamen's Union yesterday morning, the influenza epidemic us affecting crews of ships was considered, and the following motion unanimously adopted:— That in the opinion of the head office executive, and for the purpose of thoroughly conserving the health of men of the mercantile marine, every living quarter on board sliip should be properly fumigated with formalin and sulphur for not fewer than twenty-four hours, and subsequently cleaned ou.*- to the safisfac-

of the union officials, prior to seamen joining or taking ships to sea, the shipowners to bo requested to carry this out- immediately, and also remove within one month after fumigation all lavatory accommodation adjacent to the living quarters to another part of the eliip, in the interest of health. A committee of six was also appointed to carry out the terms of the resolution and to specially supervise tho fumigation and cleaning in the interest of seamen. CONVALESCENT SAILORS USE OF ST. ANNE'S SCHOOL. Through the courtesy of the Vcn. Archdeacon Dcvoy, St. Anne's Convent School, Newtown, has been placed at the disposal of the Government. The building was taken over yesterday afternoon, will bo used as a convalescent home for sailors. Sister Aloysius will be in charge of the V.A.D.'s who are assisting at the fiome. CONVENT OF THE SACRED HEART OFFERED FOR A CONVALESCENT HOME. The Mayor (Mr. J. P, Luke) stated last evening that His Grace Archbishop O'Shea had offered the uso of the Convent of the Sacrcd Heart at Island Bay as a home for convalescents, and on behalf of the community lie wished to express his heartfelt thanks for tho offer, which would be taken advantage of as the necessity presented itself. The convent is ■ a very fino three-story brick structure, with pleasant surroundings, situated in Avon Street, Is'-ind Bay, only ten minutes' wain from the beach and in a sheltered position. "SHOCKING STATE OF AFFAIRS" CONVALESCENT HOME AND NO ASSISTANTS. From Wellington Central yesterday evening came an urgent appeal to rectify what; the District Committee snys is "a shocking state of all'nirs." The Salvation Army's Training College in' Am Street was made availablo for convalescents yesterday morning. It has fifteen bods and every accessory, yet, strange as it

may seem, there are no assistants or workers available to take charge of any convalescents who may lie placed there. This should be rcctitiid at once. If there is no voluntary aid offering, group captains are fully empowered to pay for help, and as in this case tho work should be comparatively light, there should be no difficulty in getting two relays of capable women—halt" a dozen would do—to lake up this very necessary work. These homes must bo stalled immediately in order that t.hey may relieve the hospitals of convalescents. Tho position last evening was that there were fifteen empty beds in a fine building, plenty of, convalescents, but they could not; lie moved in owing to there being no ono available to look after them, ■,

' SALE OF LIQUOR A proclamation in a Gazette Extraordinary confers upon all district health officers under tho Public Health Act, 1!N)S, power and authority, with the approval of tho Minister of Public Health, to prohibit the sa|e ivithin their districts of all alcoholic liquor for the purpose of lnoro cheeking or preventing the spread of influenza. DISTRICT REPORTS WELLINGTON SOUTH. Mr. H. A. Parkinson reports that there were a gooil many cases to attend to yesterday, but there were, not so many serious ones among them as for some days past. So far Tuesday last has been tho heaviest day experienced in Newtown. On that day 75 cases were reported. Tho outlook, therefore, was slightly better. ■AT BROOKLYN. Yesterday's report was to the effect that there were still a number of serious cases in tho district, mostly consequent upon not being J.ble to get medical attention in the earlier stages. There were not so many new ones of a serious nature coming in, which was fortunate. As the hospital (in the school) was quite filled, they wore fitting up another room with beds. Mr. H. Holland, M.P., was still in bed yesterday, but it is understood that he is slowly improving. SEATOUN AND MIRAMAE. These districts (\re being splendidly worked as one from tho Masonic Hall at Seatoun, with Messrs. Alexander Smith and T. O. Fox as the heads of a capable organisation. A really wellappointed hospital has. been set up in the new school at Seatoun, and is connected with tho tolephono (by switch) from the Masonic Hall (No, 2474), In the daytime the hospital is in charge of Miss Davenport, and at night the duties are undertaken by Mrs. Poet (of Karaka Bay). The whole of the residents pay tribute to the admirable work that is being done by Dr. Alice Gow, who is attending medically to the whole of the district, thus relieving Lyall Bay aud Kilbirnio (which districts have had two dootors allocated to them). On an inquiry being made yesterday afternoon, it was learned that there were ten cases in tho hospital. More lody helpers' are required at the hospital. Thoso with cars are doing voluntary work, and ample food supplies are coming in from tho residents. The Karaka Bay motor bus is being used ns an ambulance, under the direction of Mr. Fox (borough clerk and engineer). The second death recorded from the Seatoun Hospital took place yesterday, tho viotim being Miss Eileen Ishorwood.

BERHAMPORE. Yesterday there were only five cases for tho doctor's attention at •Berhnmjprc-. This very marked improvement is due to tho untiring efforts of the Sisters of the Home of Compassion and the splendid assistance of the residents of the district.

WELLINGTON NORTH. Reporting on behalf of the Wellington North district, tho Rev. S. Robertson Orr says: "The epidemic is now fairly under control so far as the hold upon the people is concerned. The calls during the last hvo days have considerably decreased, but wo have not relaxed our efforts, believing that it is in the best interests of all that every precaution should be taken lest it again break cut. We would like, on behalf of the committee, to extend our very warm thanks to all those who have contributed money and food in abundance for the relief of the sufferers. No pains have been spared •by the workers to relieve even the. most mild case lest it bccome more soriou;. The . organisation is very, conmlote, extending ovar all doctors' and nurses' cases, the sending of personal assistance into every home requiring it. making a personal canvass of the district, disinfecting _ all premises, and endeavouring to provide shiffs and extra food for bosnitals. We cannot ?"v by nny means that we have an abundance of workers for The need just now is very pressing, indeed for more volunteers, and it Is a matter for great surprise that some largo business firms ore so very reluctant to offer any assistance in' this regard. Only to-day one was approached to see if it lyould be possible , to ask for volunteers for two of the hospitals wKere the under-staffing is causing altogether too much work, but the reply was that if any girls wanted to go, they could leave tho employ of tho firm. It would almost seem as if those peonle were living at the present time in* a world of their own. The need for voluntary aid. workers to do hospital work is so pressing that some steps must soon be. taken to find workers, unless the whole community is to be jeopardised by a fresh outbreak."