QUARANTINE RULES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 198, 16 May 1919, Page 8

QUARANTINE RULES

EMBARGO MUST REMAIN RECENT. " OBJECT LESSQN " In spite of what is being said about his policy, the Minister of Public Health has no present intention of removing the quarantine restrictions imposed on shipping from the Commonwealth of Australia. •Mr. Russell made the following statement on the,subject yesterday: ''Communications arc reaching tho Government both from Australia and New Zealand urging the immediate removal of tho embargo on passenger fravel from Australia to New Zealand. In view of the present position it is not nossiblo to accede to this request AVe have had an object lesson with regard to tho Manuka, a cargo stenmer which recently arrived in Wellington with influenza on board. Although the full medical service was made available to the clew' of this ship, I regret to say that five , of the men have succumbed to the disease. "It has, ,1 tbink, been abundantly demonstrated that influenza bacilli, after n time in any country, die down, but thnt when transferred to another country under different conditions, where they are able to find new hosts, they renew their virulence .-with disastrous results. We have had in the case of tho Mamika an illustration of the necessitv for the greatest watchfulness at the present time. I have little doubt that had there not been a strict quarantine of this ship on lier arrival, we should probably have had by this time an epidemic in full svinßt in New. Zealand. Therefore, I ask the neople of New Zealand to Iμ patient during this critical time. We have learned our lessons in connection with the epidemic, and the people must make up their minds to a policy of strict caution regarding communication with other countries where the sickness prevails. So sonn as the nosition improves.-and the condition of the quarantine stations improves to such an extent that they will be equipped .todeal with any vessel arriving with influenza cases'nn board, the conditions will be relnxed to ennble a restricted number of New Zealanders to return to their homes. But further than Hiis it will not Ik> possible to »o for' Rome little time. How soon this Vill be I nin not iible>to say nt present, but the public mav rest assured that as soon as it can be done with safety there will bb a 'relaxation of the embargo. "Witb vcsnrd to the alloyed distress nmnng New Zealanders etranded ill Australia, the' Government agent has fullauthority to advances in necessitous ens'cs, and I think tbe last advice we had from him was that th« total number to whom' advances bad been made d'd not exceed three up till the present." ■