CLEARING OUT SLUMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 56, 30 November 1918, Page 7

CLEARING OUT SLUMS

.. » AUCKLAND TAKING ACTION INTRODUCTION OF DISEASE FROM OVERSEAS By Teleeraph.—Preas Association. Auckland, November iil. Revelations brought about by the epidemie, particularly in regard to Hir existence of slum areas and the prevalence of grossly insanitary conditions in certain quarters of the 'city, were discussed by. the City Council last, evening. Reports were presented by the Jlayor, City Engineer, Chief Siiniliiry Inspector, and City Solicitor. As the result of a recommendation by tho Mayor, the council* «it its next meeting will consider a ..proposal to embark on n progressive: housing policy, for which, purpose a loan of .62.50,000 is proposed; to increase the number of sanitary inspectors; and obtain wider powers under the Public Health, Act. The Mayor (Jlr. Guiison) states in regard to the unsatisfactory reply by (he. Hon. 07 WV'Kussell in reference To ths precautions against the introduction of disease from ove-rsenu vessels, that, after' conferring with the chairman of the Hospital Board, if the .Minister of Health will not protect this community, it will become, his duty as Mayor to take adequate steps to afford the , protection that is its. due. He will riot hesitate to take any steps that circumstances demand, and he looks for support from all sections of the community to prevent a \ repetition of the disastrous epidemic or any kind of sickness. ' The Mayor, at a citizens' meeting, said that if the matter-lay with Dr. Frengley the city had nothing to fear, but if left to the Minister in Wellington, who might telegraph, that the vessel be cleared, as he had in the case of the Niagara, there was .cause for alarm. Tly) statement by the Minister that measles'were rife in Auckland was contrary to fact and'contrary to Dr. Frenglcy's opinion. Mr. Savage assured the meeting that no ship would be allowed by the watereiders to berth if there was the slightest danger of infection. The Mayor supported to the full the other civic authorities. . STRONG WORDPRO}! MINISTER . REPLY TO MR. GUNSON. The Minister of Public Health informed a reporter hist night that he had forwarded the following reply to the Mayor oi] Auckland in response to his telegram:— ' ]

. ■' "The statement I made will not- be contradicted by me on any assertions made by you in opposition to the lnlonmition 1 received. It appears to me that by endeavouring to inflame the people of Auckland against the Public Health Department ypu are seeking to distract public attention from the revolting conditions • proved to exist in your city. . . . A&« Minister of Public Health I am iict.iig on the advice of experienced, scientific men, which I prefer to that received' from you. The papers here quote you as saying, That if the Minister of Public Health will not protect tins community it will become my duty as Mayor to take adequate steps "to aiford the protection which is its due.' /•m ' s , O, iiud do jt 11OW - Clean »1> the nlthy slums and places oi your city. There lies your opportunity. 1 lease also remember that you must obey the law and set an example. Jf you choose to lake matters into vour hands and defy the law you will'find that I, as Minister of Public Health, will carry out my vosponsibilities to the letter without'fear." Measles on the Makura. In replying to a telegram from the Auckland Citizens' Committee, the Minister states that the Department realises Us full, responsibilities, ami that it is acting on the advice of the Chief Health Oflicer, that it will not permit the .Mayor and Citizens' Committee to take whatever steps they may consider necessary it these steps in any wav contravene the aw, and that if such steps are taken the law will.be fully vindicated. "With lie view of adequately.protecting Auckland trom the possibility of a visitation of measles," added the Minister, the following steps have been taken, and I may say that the Government lias in no way been influenced in this connection by any agitation set on foot by |he Mayor of Auckland: (1) Measles have been declared an infectious iliselise under the Public Health Act. and consequently will be notifiable and. all the usual precautions taken. -(S) In mv previous telegram to the Mayor of Auckland 1 stated that, all passengers belonging [o the Makura would be held on board, and not allowed.to leave tyie ship until tjiey had passed through an inhaling chamber, and that if it were found that there were persons on board who proposed to land m Auckland and were alfpclcd by measles, they would be dispatched to an infectious diseases hospital and isolated. Jfon arrival at Auckland it is found necessary to quarantine the Makura, Motuihi Island will be employed for the purpose. If only a small number of cases require isolation, the buildings on Motuihi used for the accommodation of the staff will be taken over. Should it be found that a considerable number of people require to be quarantined the Chief Health Officer, and the District Health Officer will decide whether they shall be placed in. thi! quarantine buildings now occupied by the Merman prisoners .of war, or in tin! canvas camp occupied formerly by the Ilnroiongaris. It is entirely left to the discretion and decision nf the two officers mentioned whether the Germans shall leave Ihe buildings and use. the canvas camp, or vice versa. It will be seen, therefore, that every possible arrangement lias been made, ami that the agitation has been entirely unwarranted. A clear line of demarcation, added the Minister, -would be kept between the quarantine patients and the other occupants of the island.