COMPLAINTS FROM MOTUIHI

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 176, 21 April 1919, Page 4

COMPLAINTS FROM MOTUIHI

GRAVE FAULTS ALLEGED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, April 19. A number of first saloon- passengers by the Niagara complain that owing to the insufficient accommodation at Motuihi, thev were subjected to-a grave risk of contracting disease. They say that tha Public Health Department had no right to send people ashore to an island which is totally unfit for the reception of 6ick people, or to placo them in buildings 1 that were unsuitable; and in respect to healthy people, to send them ashore without having previously arranged for proper and sufficient accommodation, especially for women and children. Complaint is made that the tents were old], and contained holes that caused !ntensa draughts. There were no wooden floors, and tho damp ground caused eome occupants to get rheumatic twinges. No one was provided with common toilet utensils; no provision was made for hanging clothine- in the tents, and women found that their clothing got damp over-night, and had to he dried in tho sun. Proper quarantine was not carried out. There were facilities -for disseminating disease on the island, and, in spite of supervision, .such dissemination was not impossible. There was no system of segregation, aud the arrangements on the island were undoubtedly more favourable to the spread of disease than to its pre* vention. RELEASED FROM QUARANTINE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, April 19. Twcntv-seven more passengers were released from quarantine to-day, leaving twenty-six still on the island. The condition of three patients is reported as serious. The remainder are progressing satisfactorily. The Niagara resumed her voyage from Sydney to Vancouver at noon to-day. SYDNEY'S WORST WEEK 230 DEATHS CITY DESERTED FOR EASTER (Rec. April 20, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, April 20. This has been the worst week in Sydney 3ince tho outbreak of the influenza epidemic. Two hundred and thirty deaths and over a' thousand cases were recorded. So far the general cessation of business does not appear to have affected the epidemic. It has been the quietest Easter ever known. Instead of crowds attra:ted by the show and trie races the city, is deserted, most of the people having gone holidaying in tho country—Press Assn.