The Dominion WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1918. EPIDEMIC AND SLUMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 59, 4 December 1918, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1918. EPIDEMIC AND SLUMS

No good purpose can be served by attempts to apportion the blame for the existence of slums in the principal cities of New Zealand. Aa a matter of fact, no one in particular is responsible for them. They had their beginnings in the early days of tho Dominion when fcho people did not worry themselves very much about the public health, and tho evil was permitted to go on unchecked for many years. Tho hysterical telegrams of the Mayor of Auckland and the inflammatory replies of the Minister of Public Health will not put an end to epidemics nor eradicate slums. Recriminations of this sort will neither atone for past neglect nor prepare the way for necessary reforms, This is no time for panicky outbursts. Those who are responsible for the preservation of the public health should keep their heads cool and their brains clear. The energy wasted in fighting each other might be put to good use in fighting the influenza. After the danger has passed, it may be necessary to havea thorough inquiry regarding the origin and spread of the epidemic, not only for the purpose of meting out blame,' if blame there be, but also with the object of improving our public health machinery _so that we may be in a better position to prevent and cure disease in the future. The experience gained in the present campaign against the influenza should be stored up for use in days to come. We have had a tragic lesson, and if we do not profit by it we will thoroughly deserve any future penalty which our indifference may bring upon us. It is to be hoped that public opinion will not permit a reversion to the old policy of drift as soon as the present scare is over. It is foolish to rave against the Health Department in troublous times .and to starve it or even forget its very existence when things are going well. We cannot reasonably expect it to be prepared for every emergency unless we are willing to pay the cost of readiness and efficiency. Real progress cannot be made by fits and starts—by panic reforms followed by long periods of stagnation. _ The epidemic has tested the official machinery for safeguarding the public health, and has revealed some serious defects. In a letter which we published on lion-' day, Dr. Clay stated that "the Health Department has had more than a full year's knowledge of the fact that a virulent type of influenza prevailed in various parts of the world, and yet no adequate or effective precautions can be said to have been taken to prevent its introduction into New Zealand." The Department has clone much good work in fighting the disease, but it. was too late in beginning the battle.

Dit. Clay is no doubt correct when .he asserts that the present epidemic is not duo "to the filth and sluramery of our cities and humble homes"; biit, of course, he would not for a moment deny that filth and slummery are fertile sources of disease. Slums must be exterminated. They will never be rooted out by words or good intentions, but by effective action. City councillors and members of Parliament are just now talking very volubly about the necessity for cleaning up our cities, for preventing overcrowding, and removing insanitary dwellings. But what arc they going to do, and when are they going to do it'i Speaking m the House of Representatives, Mr. Massey expressed the hope that we will profit by the lessons of the epidemic, and prevent anything of the like coming along in the future. These are fine words, but they were not followed up by an assurance that the Government would take immediate steps to strengthen the Health Department and to improve its methods. - Mb. Massey went on to say that there- exist in •' some of the largo centres slum areas that are a disgrace to the nation. He hoped to see- these slums swept away and never suffered to exist again. But he did not express his determination to take steps without delay to convert his hope into reality. He also said that it is the clear duty of tho Government to do everything it possibly can to provide healthy, comfortable, and secure homes for people who are not able to provide such homes for themselves. But ho did not say that the Government would forthwith proceed to do this clear duty. The abolition of slums and the erection of suitable dwellings arc two aspects of one problem which the Government and the municipal authorities will have to solve, and tho sooner they tackle the task in earnest the better for all concerned. It will have to be dealt with in a big and courageous way. In the past there have been periodical crusades against slums, but the zeal of the crusaders was never strong enough to overcome the difficulties that beset their path, an'd they soon grew weary of welkloinir. The war and tho epidemic have both emphasised the urgency of the need for attaining and maintaining a, high standard of public health. This cannot be clone without money, knowledge, foresight, effective organisation, and continuous effort. Nothing indeed worth doing will bo done except as the result of the steady pressure of enlightened public opinion. Tho driving power must come from tho _, people themselves.