THE MAKURA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 61, 6 December 1918, Page 4

THE MAKURA

TREATMENT OF PASSENGERS CHANGES IN HEALTH DEPARTMENT FORECASTED Radical changes in tho administration of the Public Health Department at Auckland were forecasted by the Minister of Public Health in answering a question put to him by Mr. C. .T. Parr (Eden) in the House- of Representative.* yesterday. . . , , . Mr. Parr drew tho Ministers attention to tiio statement made by the Press delegates that absolutely nothing was bong done to safeguard the health of the MO people on board tho Makura; that, with the exception of one short visit by thveo doctors, nothing hnd been done to pro. tect the passengers; and that neither a fumigation chamber nor an inhalation chamber had yet appeared on the ship. Mr. Parr asked the Minister to stato what ho intended to do in the matter, and whether it was not his duty to suspend thosa officers -responsible for tho conditions revealed. "I have read with extreme regret :thecommunication referred to," rtplied the Minister. "I'would like to consider tho matter a little more carefully beioro giving a categorical reply, but I may say at once that for the past two or three days I have seen that a. radical chango is necessary in the administration ct' the Public Health Department at Auckland. Continuing, the Minister said that ho had asked Dr. Valintine to proceed to Auckland immediately to lake matters into his own hands. Dr. Valintine would act boldly and firmly, and he, tho Minister, would act absolutely on his advise, even if it included the withdrawing of the Makura, from quarantine. Mr. Russell, in conclusion, reiterated that a very radical alteration was necessary at Auckland.

PROTESTS OF THE PASSENGERS DANGEROUS CONGESTION ON THB VESSEL. By Telegraph-Press Association. Auckland, December 5. The Makura's second and tliird-rlass-pas*engcrs carried resolutions protesting against the detention of the ship on the around that the sickness on board has not; been sufficient to warrant it. the resolution endorsed that earned, by the first-class passengers, and' also proposed that it would be greatly to the benefit of the general health of the passengers and crew if the passengers for New Zenland were permitted to leave tho ship, in quarantine if necessary, thus relieving the' dangerous congestion on board, the number of possible contacts, and facilitating such sanitary measures as roieht be undertaken. The meeting also urged that as the passengers had had no official intimation of tho course of events concerning the miarantine, bulletins should bo posted from time to time as events might materflisc, and that pnbUc notices should be posted stating definitely the times, place, and means at and by which cablegrams, telegrams, and letters might .bo dispntched. ( - PRESS DELEGATION'S COMPLAINTS REPLIED TO BY HEALTH AUTHORITIES. Auckland, December 5. The complaints by the Press delegation regarding the Makura wera leferred to the Health authorities. Regarding the statement that no official intimation was oiven of the intention to place the passonoers under quarantine, it was stated that, before the officers of the Department left the F,hip on Sunday they infanned the cantata that tho vessel was to be Quarantined until further notice. Fumigation apparatus was left on hoard on Pundnv, and the medical officer of tho ship wps advised that passengers and «rcw should be treated, by inhalation. The Union Company was asked to provide, inhalation nozzles, and these were sent down Inst Monday, with instructions as to their use. Having regard to the fact that the shin's doctor had taken temperatures and nulse readin-rs prior to the Makura reaching Auckland, the authorities state-that it was not neceshitv to examine the patients individually. The ship's doctor ccnnaintcd tho Department'*; officers with th» stnt» of health of those on. board. Dr. 1. J. Duplies, the district hwlth officer, visited 'the shin on Tuesday and again yesterday. In regard to the non-removal of the pas=nntrers, the Authorities state that the prisoners of war Kid first to bo removed, and that as soon as tho buildings can be propcly equipped tho passem?»rs will be landed as promptly as possible.

WATERSIDE WORKERS' ACTION EETTTST! TO wOTJir THE VESSEL UNTIL DECLARED CLEAN. Auckland, December 5. After a, call made in the morning for waterside workers to coal the Makura at Motuihi and men had been sent to handle the stores, a stop-work meeting was held, 700 being present, and. a resolution wis passed protesting egainst the action of the Prime Minister in suggesting or consenting to the coaling of the TO«el while in quarantine, on the ground that the return of the men from Motiulit without isolation would probably lead to the re'introduction of the scourge into the city. It wis olso resolved not to work the Makura until she was declared a clean ship and berthed alongside the wharf, and until satisfactory terms and conditions and a. period of isolation had been arranged for. It was also decided to hold to the former resolution to cease work at 5 p.m. till Auckland is declared a clean city. When the call was made _ for coal workers only four were offering. FURTHER CASEJOF INFLUENZA < Auckland, December s_: There are sixteen more eases of influenza on the Malcurn, making a total of twentv-nino, including one nassenuer. Only four arc acute cases. Twenty-sis have been removed to the isolation quarters on Motuihi Island, and three more will bo lamVd to-day. The Union Company has deoidod to discharge all cargo before the Makura leaves for Sydney. Svdnev pnssoiigei'6 are appealing to the Federal Prime Minister to get the Makura disnatchetl to Sydney without further delay. T , Later. Three more oascn war* reported to-day —a passenger, a stewardess, and the seventh engineer.