SICKNESS ON THE NIAGARA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 167, 9 April 1919, Page 8

SICKNESS ON THE NIAGARA

HEALTH DEPARTMENT CRITICISED i ATTITUDE OP WATERSIDE WORKERS By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, April 8. Mailers in connection with the, sickness on the Niagara were discussed by flic Auckland Harbour Board upon receipt of a letter from the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union. The -secretary of the union wrote stating that he had been instructed to ask the board what steps it intended to take as a precautionary measure to avoid a recrudesence of the epidemic in Auckland. Members of the union were of opinion that tho board should not, in the interests of the health of the community, allow the Niagara to berth until the/e was absolutely no doubt that the vessel was freo from the disease. It was the intention of members of the union not to attempt to discharge the cargo of the Niagara until/seven clear days had elapsed-after the last ease of sickness.

The board's solicitors_ wrote stating (hat they considered the berthing of tho Niagara entirely a matter for'the health authorities, and the board had no power to refuse ordinary harbour- facilities. The board might make itself liable to action at the instance of the shipowners in the event of it refusing, berthage facilities. Mr. Entrican suggestedjhnt a copy of the legal opinion should be sent to the union. .

Mr. Leyland contended that the board should act within the law. The Health Department should know when te act after its recent experience.

' Mr. Wallace, who is also chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, eaid that in his opinion the Health Department was not able to judge or to appreciate the seriousness of-the position. It was a crime to keep the passengers on board the Niagara until they contracted the disease. The -Harbour Board should refuse lo allow the ship to berth at the wharf. Drastic, action was the only remedy (o bring the question to a head. The board should take the. law into its own hands, and if it did so it would receive the support of the community. The altitude of the Health Department, after having had five months to prepare for the possibility of a fresh outbreak of the disease, was deplorable. Respecting the accommodation at the quarantine station no new building had been erected, and he understood that at'the present time the .Department had not sufficient tents on Motuihi to accommodnte the passengers from the Niagara. The Department appeared to be utterly incapable of dealing with health yitecr.utions. Mr. Wallace said the waterside workers held the key to the position in refusing to work the shin until it was definitely/established that it was clean. The waterside workers should be conerat; ul-ited on Hie attitude adopted by f h*m. Tt was decided to 6end a copy of tho solicitor's letter to the uniop.

■ SEVEN FRESH CASES,

Auckland, April 8. The influenza cases from the Nins-ivi were increased by seven to-day, making a.total of fifty-three. All wore reported to-night to bo doine well. ■

Dr. R. H. Mnkgill.. of the Health Department, staled to-night that the whole of the passengers would, bo landed and isolated in groups on the quaranline island. The ship will then bo thoroughly fumigated. A few members of the crtw will remain on boAd, and if no fresh cases occur during the period of quarantine the Niagara will berth and discharge cargo. NEW ZEALAND PASSENGERS ON MOTUIHI. The Minister of Public Health (Hon. G. W. Russell) has received a telegram fiom Dr. Makgill. who wont to Auckland in place of Dr. Valintine. to the olfeet that all tho New Zealand passengers were on the island, and had shown no sign of the disease up to the present. PROTEST PROM OtiTWARD-BOUND PASSENGERS. ■ Auckland, April 8. •The Mayor (Mr. Gunson) has forwarded to the Minister of Public Health a resolution passed at a meeting of the passengers booked to leave by (ho.Niagara, asking that the present most unsatisfactory position be terminated immediately, 'to enable the steamer to be thoroughly fumigated and the-voyage continued.

THE PUTIKI ISOLATED.. By Teleeraph-Press Association. Christchurch, April 8. Putiki arrived from Timaru thife morning, and the work of unloading her cargo was commenced immediately in order to dispatch her for Wellington this evening. Early in the afternoon, however, on the recommendation of Dr. Upliam, who was called on board the vessel to attend oue of the seamen, discharging operations wero discontinued, aud no one was allowed to hoard the- vessel or to leave her. The seaman in question is said to have developed symptoms similar to those of epidemic influenza. The vessel and the crew are isolated pending an examination by Dr. Chesson, the Health Officer, who will return from Wellington to-morrow. CASE ON THE PORT STEPHEN. \ Auckland, April 8. A wireless report states that the steamer Port Stephen, from Sydney to Gisborne, has been diverted to the liotuihi quarantine station, owing to one ease of influenza, aboard. The Minister off Public Health informed a reporter' yesterday that the Port Stephen, which is not a transport, vas en route from Sydney to Gisborne, when she developed a case of influenza— the chief mate. j In consequence of this her destination was altered, and she is proceeding to Auckland, where, of course, she will be subject to quarantine

DOMINION NOTIFICATIONS

The Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of Public Health) last evening made the following statement with regard to the intluenza notifications throughout the Dominion for the week ended April 7:—

Auckland, 18: Auckland City, 1-1 mild (throe in one household);' Auckland suburbs, 2 mild, 1 epidemic; coastal shipping, 2 mild. Thames, 1 mild. AVaihi, 1 mild Kastric. Taumarunui, 1 mild. Bay of Plenty, 1: 2 severe at Whakatane, 1 ' showing cardiac symptoms.; 2 mild, Whakatane County. Hawke's Bay, 1 mild. Waipawa, G (2 pneumonic). Hnwera. i (t pneumonic). . Stratford, !t. Patea, 1 mild.. Wnnganui, S mild. Palmerston North, 5 mild. Wellington, 10 (1 pneumonic). Wairarapa, 1 pneumonic. North Canterbury, i (2 * pneumonic, 2 mikt. Vincent, 1 mild. Southland, 2 (1 mild, 1 pneumonic). A total of 72. The Niagara cases are not included in the total. DEADLOCK REPORTED between medical association and Health department. - Uy Telegraph—Press Association. •Christchurch, April 8. A deadlock is reported to have occurred b?tweeu the Medical Association and the Health Department, consequent upon the non-payment by the Department of fees duo to the "b'.nck" doclois during' the epidemic in November. A serious aspect of the .•nailer is that the doctors have declined to dismiss future "block" organisation until the position is clearly defined as relating to Hie past epidemic, and future services. The Mayor, as chairman of the Epidemic CouniiU lee, has communicated with the Minister of Internal Affairs, expressing astonishment that arrangements made by the committee, are likely to le nullified by tho failure of tho Department to pay the doctors' fees, and asking tho Minister to givo the matter his personal and prompt i attention.