INFLUENZA
i . A RAPID ABATEMENT POSITION BECOMING NORMAL DISEASE SERIOUS AMONGST MAORIS "The reports which luivn come in today from nil parts of the Dominion indicate a perceptible mid rapid iilmletiient 'of tlio epidemic," stated (he Minister (if Public Health (the Hon. G. W. Hussell) last night. "I nm informed llml. in Auckland, where it first took hold, the position.js rapidly becoming nornial. This is reflected in the numerous requests Hint hnve been made for the lifting of the '•.•lo.i'iiie upon hotels, breweries, mill picture theatres. The matter is under consideration 'at present with n view In Iho embargoes being lifted directly it is considered absolutely safe to do so. "Wolliiiitton city and the entire (listriot ns far north as Napier on the one const; and Tnrannki on the other are rapidly approaching n normal situation, and -there can be no doubt that if conditions continue as at present, by the end of the present week the greater part of the epidemic will hivve passed awny. The sumo •position obtains in Canterbury, where the -admissions to hospital have fallen enormously, although the death rate is still somewhat high. This, of course, is to be expected on account of the inevitable cases. In Otngo and Southland the situation is progressing well towards normality. Heavy Native Death Roll. "The most serious aspect is the epidemic amongst the Maori population. At various points the, deaths amongst the Natives have been severe, but the position hns been pretty well overtaken, and I trust that the death roll amongst the Maoris will soon become less severe than it has been. The Hon. Dr. Poina.ro is at present in the Taranaki district, and this momi'ig he proceeded to Parihaka 'for the purpose of looking after the Natives there. At Waimana, in the Bay of Plenty, there have been a large number of deaths amongst the Maori population.
"From nil over the country there come requests for trained nurses and medical Hion, which I regret tn say it is iniposfiible to accede to. The sad feature is that under the present, circumstances it is impossible to provide the trained nurses and medical men that are. asked for. Dr. Frengley, who proceeded to Auckland nt my request when (he epidemic assumed a serious character, will return to Wellington immediately in order to act as inspector'of the temporary hospitals in the various parts of the Dominion. This work is considered absolutely necessary, in order to secure higher efficiency nntl to see .Iliat niii)epp.«ary institutions shall be closed as rapidly as possible. Dr. TWis, h.'-i'ilh officer at Dunedin. is p.t; present siifariii" from Hie nrpvoilinrr d'sease, and Dr. Chamntalannj of Otago University, i- acting as Chief Health Office,. - for Otiigo. ■ • - . , Relief of Districts. "The nJinstion of tlie relief of tho™ who hnve suffered as a ■conse.quewe of the epidemic is under consideration, and a circular has been spnl to nil hosnilnl boards for (he purpose of obtaining from their permanent and temporary onrniisa(ions 'nartieninrs, as to women who liave lost their husbands, and children their parents, jn order to pwprrain what relief will be neewmrj - . When tlm informntinn k available, a nromwl will be submitted to Cabinet to nrovide the necessary funds to deal with these cases. A Policy of Caution. "While regretting exceedingly that many people are thrown out of employment temporarily by the closing of noilessential businesses, f cannot too firmly impress the ■ fact that •anything in tlie nature of ;i recrudescence of this epidemic must be avoided. Consequently, I appeal to the peonle of the Dominion to realise how great the- disaster has been to our country, and to permit a policy of caution being 'xpicised in coiuej-Hoi wtl any relaxation of condition * 'l:r>t nre ink-udi'd to secure or prevent a 'ocri: ('.(••"(•Ilrp of the (Il8»-ise." • The. ■ Minister added that for the 48 hours ended noon yesterihv there v*re 19. admissions to the hosnihls in Wellington. U discharges, and'l2 deaths. At noon yesterday the total number of vacant Wr in the hosn'lijs, omitting St. John's ■Sohoolirooin, which had been closed, was 19. \ Heavy Mortality at Samoa. '"I regret to ea.y." said Mr, Russell, in conclusion, "that, His Excellency the Gov-ernor-General has received, from the Administrator of Samoa/advice to the effect thnf the epidemic has been very severe in TJpolu and Savaii. In ITpoln the deaths aro estimated at lflOfl, but th" number in Savaii has rot come to ha"d. Tnformation by wireless from the Cha,tliams al.<o indicates that there have teen a muni, ber of deaths there."
,YAST IMPROVEMENT IN WELLINGTON SEVERAL DEPOTS CLOSING DOWN STATEMENT BY THE MAYOR. „. The Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, -M.P., yesterday niade the following statement to a Domin&n' represenlativo with regard to the present position'in the Wellington campaign against the epidemic. It will be noticed that the statement contains every indication th.it conditions in the city have improved tremendously:— "At a meeting held last week," said His Worship, "it was considered necessary for the purpose of solidifying tlie organisation, also of minimising tho claims on voluntary workers, to concentrate the work as far as possible at tlie central hendqiiiiiters. The decision the meeting arrived at then was that nurses and nlso the hired motor-curs in uie should iis ft" , ns possible bo concentrated at the Town Hall. . One or two of tho group associations said that they had practically ,cut out almost all , their work, and that the churns upon the attention of their committees had dwindled iso much that they hod almost censed to exist. ' I invited them not to disband, but to keep themselves in readiness for any emergency; they wonUl thuo keep up the line of communication between themselves and central headquarters.
"I find to-day," continued His AVorship, "from information I have received from several quarters, that there is a distinct desire oh the part of group committees to -fall in with tho idea of concentrating their efforts at tho Town Hall. While they themselves may not actually disband, they will cease to carry on their work. In that way tho desire I expressed last week is being largely fulfilled. I understand that the Wellington Central Committee are vacating their premises in St. John's to carry on the remainder of their work at the Trades Hal! in Vivian Street, This mnninder will* be a continuation of the relief measures necessary to cope with distress in the area. "The position is that the very favourable reports received from all the ho,s|)itals indicate , that the work can now be centralised. l«'or this lam sure everyone will be grateful, seeing that it is brought about by tho improving conditions of health throughout the city. "The Mayoress and I yesterday visited nil the hospitals and the Children's Home at Miramar. Time did not permit of our visiting tho convalescent homes, but wo were struck by tho cheerfulness of tho patients ve saw, and by their appreciation of what is being done for them by the medical profession, the nurses, and the splendid band of voluntary workers. "The requests for medicines have dwindled away to n tremendous extent", and for some time medicines nsked for have nearly all been tonics. This indicates that the convalescent stage has now generally made its appearance. Moreover, each day shows a decided reduction in the number of requests even for tonics. "The work of dispensing comforts and necessaries from the Town Hall kitelions is one that is likely to continue for a while, as supplementary and strengthening food will now be required to build up" convalescents after their sickness."
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 58, 3 December 1918, Page 6
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1,252INFLUENZA Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 58, 3 December 1918, Page 6
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