STRANDED NEW ZEALANDERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 191, 8 May 1919, Page 9

STRANDED NEW ZEALANDERS

AN APPEAR TO THE ACTINGPREMIER (An Opea letter per favour the Editor, The Dominion.) _ To Six James Allen, • Acting-Prime Minister of the Dominion of Now Zealand. Dear -Sir James,—l venture to address •you regarding the restrictions which.tlj Government of New Zealand has imposed upon, travel from Australia to New Zealand, and I do so tho more readily that I am sure that some of the facts «of the case have only to be brought to the notice of yourself and the New Zealand public in order Unit the restrictions may be. rendered more effective and loss harsh, in their application. The dailv death-rate in Sydney due to influenza recently touched J9 amongst, a population of 350,800. .The figure has 3iow declined steadily to below 20, and '■the New South Wales-Government is al.Teady considering the advisability of relaxing the restrictions in force, the present epidemic, therefore,.'cannot be considered severe, in so large in population, m .view :df tho losses recently sustained in 3vew Zealand and elsewhere. On April '16, when the epidemic was at.its worst ''here, tho New Zealand Government announced, without' warning, 'that no passengers from Australia would be permitted to land in New Zealand. .'•,',- Lot me say at onco that it is not the object of-this letter, nor the desire of New Zoalandcrs i>t present in Sydney, to •effect % modification of the restrictions i.'i any way which would increase; the risk of a recrudescence of influenza in New Zealand, • nor to expose any class, such', as the wharf labourers, to increased liability to.infection. Or. the contrary, we desire to point out .that the present regulations are unsatisfactory as a safeguard to New- Zealand, while at. the' same"time they inflict.quite unnecessary loss and inconvenience on New Zealandeis now in Australia. •-. -

Whiles many of (lie characteristic.! of pneumonic influenza remain puzzling, certain facts regarding it.are now well established and accepted 'try all competent medical .authorities. ■.•■••.-• ... , • 1. The infection is conveyed personally; it is necessary to bo in the vicinity of an influenza patient and to : inhale the germs ■which lie has discharged in.order to contract the disease. .■ 2...The period of incubation.of the disease is shorthand docs not normally exceed 48 hours; in exceptional cases it may ho longer of showing, itself—un to a period, of,-say, four or five, days] it." Uninfected areas have ■successfully excluded the disease by applying a, quarantine period of seven clear days from the last contact, provided this: quarantine is properly carried out.. . These.facts.are sufficient in themselves to show that, if passengers are known to .have been away.from.an infected area for seven clear, days, without- developing tho; disease, it is safo to admit thorn to <m' uninfected areß. If the medical adTisers of the Now Zealand. Government regard, a. longer period of quarantine as necessary, although so far as- one can learn they would' he unione in holding that, opinion, I am sure that New Zealanders. would gladly submit-to whatever uiconveniMice would be involved-, in the application of incrbitswl .precartions.' 1 am authoritatively informed; that ,under- present regulations eteamers are permitted to. convey, cargo ..to and-form i\ew Zealand, and that cm arrival in A'cw Zealand.-ports tho crows of these vessels are permitted to'go ashore freely after only 24 hours of quarantine, • or about .five, days from last contact with'an infected area: 'Not only so, hut.in the event of shortage of crew rn the date of sailing: it is said that extra liands are engaged at the last, minute who have not undergone the medical inspection'three (lays before sailing which, is usually, .required of passengers. ■. '. : ' During tho last few days the' New Zealand Government lias cabled orders, that returned New Zealand troops. who have, heen in Australia may return to New Zealand. This is only right; but if troops are permitted to" return, whv not other bona iido- New Zealanders? ~T s there any greater risk in. the .case, of passengers; than in. the ease ',cf. tr'oons jind'-the crews!' 'Passengers are,usuallv; more'willing to take, precautions .than, the crews, and they are provided with more airy and better accommodation on ■hoard'ship. It is difficult to se'o how llio distinctions made can be iristined. .

Let me point out, also, that New Zealand has now fortunately little to fear. In countries where, a*, in New Zealand, the second wave of .influenza— that .in ■whiclCthe pneumonic form was prevalent —has-'-been severe, ;io further .recrud-' •escencc of the disease nas occurred, even in' countries, such as' India, where, no precautions were possible and the conditions were particularly favourable for flic' spread of infection. In .Australia the pneumonic wave has".been stifled.by stringent.precautions..and under favourable climatic conditions it may Ihj expired to continue for some lime to come with occasional outbreaks nf, increased, severity. The probable immunity of New Ze;i!a;ul from farther epidemics does not. of course, justify (lie abandonment of nil precautions: but. it. is'.'.'«n(iieient ,gronwl for abandoning the. tendency to panic, : and for the adoption. of considered and scientific methods of applying. the precautions.

With reference to .the effect of the '•egulations-which have been. an-, plied, those who .are " most seriously affected arc bona ii.de New Zealaiidors ivhodesire to. return to their own country.

Their number is estimated at 50 or 40 lit'the present moment:, and (hoy are being piit to serious expense and inconvenience apart from oilier considerations. Iho action of Iho Government lias resulted in confining them in an infcctcit area when they might easily bo permitted, under proper precautions, to return to Nov; Zealand, where I hey would run no-risks. I think- it must'bo admitted (luit under those circiims,taneps they have a. legitimate onuso of complaint. Some are business men who are subject to serious monctarv loss, not only pn account, of the expense of living in Sydney,, but also.through loss of business and. time. Others are returning on short furlough from . England, India, and elsewhere to visit (heir families in New Zealand after long absence. II" the embargo remains in force their furlough'will be entire! v wasted, ami they would have .been better to remain in distant parts. This is a serious matter, as .such furlough is available only tit long intervals. In some cases New Zenlanders wish to visit those nearest to them who are.'seriously ill. or dying; whilo others hnve been here on a short visit and havo not tho means.to extend their slay. One is at a loss to discover an adequate reason for the present attitude of the Government. The hardship is imposed on New Zenlanders; it is not as effective in safeguarding Now .Zealand as a proper system of quarantine would be, and though the killuenza in Australia, is, comparatively .speaking, mild, ihs; embargo is the must harsh and drastic measure imposed by niiy Government to check the inroads of tho disease. One can only conclude 'that, in view of the indignation expressed at the incident .which resulted.in influenza gaining adTnission to New Zealand iii the lirst instance, Ike Government, is seeking to meet criticism by erring oil the side of severity when it is' too late. I venture to suggest, iSir James, that what is 'equired is cool and considered action in view of all the facts, and a.more scientific method of dealing with them than that of excluding passengers unconditionally while'ndinilHwg crews nml .troops. .In conclusion, I enn assure you that so far as I have been able to judge Hie feeling among. Now Zealnndcrs here, they are willing to undergo cheerfully wlmtever discomforts may be involved in 1 quarantine on arrival in New Zealand. They ; would' bo willing,'!, am sure, to camp dut-.and fend for themselves should accommodation prove inadequate. The bona fide New "Zenlanders wishing to cross are' probably not moro than forty at present,.and as. about.' thirty returned soldiers.era to sail to-morrow, it is surely possible to • make provision for the civilians, ■ similar to that for the troops. . : I assure you that were it dear that tho imles* in force were effective and necessary, to, safeguard New Zealand and that no" other method would serve; 1 would not trouble -yon with this appeal; but- in; view of the serious position in wliicb many New Zealand people are placed-1 trust that your Government ami the. public.will see the necessity of substituting :an effective quarantine system for. the present eintargo. ■ J. remain; Sir, Yours sincerelv, '•- • (Sgd.) I?.' S. CREE BKOWN. Sydney,-April. 28.