QUARANTINE BARRIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 111, 4 February 1919, Page 4

QUARANTINE BARRIERS

I THE POSITION IN WELLINGTON. At' yesterday's meeting '■ of epidemio [ workers in tho Mayor's room, Mr. H. Baldwin (chairman of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board) i raised the question of the, quarantine : arrangements in Wellington, and particuI larly the position at Somes Island, at I present used by the Defence Department ! for the Earotongan troops. What did the Health Department intend to do with i civilian passengers who might have to II undergo detention in quarantine? Mr. Baldwin subsequently explained that, with so.manyi vessels arriving at the port, it would be well to know where, the •city stood in this matter. If ordinary passengers were to be quarantined on the island with soldiers the place might be difficult to manage, as the soldiers would be under a strict discipline that could not' be exerted in the case of civilians. If civilians for detention (for treatment or observation) had to be sent to, the Hospital the board should bo notified accordingly. His idea was a second quarantine ground, say, in the Defence reserve at Miramar North (in the vicinity of Fart Ballnnce),' so that any difficulty such as mentioned could be averted. Mr. Baldwin's point was referred to the District Health Officer (Dr. Watt), who stated that the Somes Island quarantine station was not reserved' exclusively fo'.- soldiers, and, if there were any suspicions cases among ordinary passengers 1 arriving by overseas vessels warranting quarantine, they would bo placed on the island. In reply to a question asto whether such would be tho case whilst the Earotongan contingent was in quarters on the island. Dr. Watt stated that in such a case the Eardtongans would be removed. As a matter of fact the Earotongans were now free of the slight pneumonic symptoms exhibited by three cases on their arrival, and were in good health generally. They were only now being quartered on the island to oblige th:> Defence Department until such time as their transport to Earotonga could be arranged. • .