STRANDED IN SYDNEY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 200, 19 May 1919, Page 6

STRANDED IN SYDNEY

INDIGNATION MEETING OF NEW ZEALANDERS STATEMENT BY MINISTER OP HEALTH By TelegraDli—Press Association—Copyright (Eec. May IS, 5.5-p.m.) ; 1 Sydney, May 17. A meeting of 113 stranded New Zealanders adopted a resolution to cable Sir James Allen (Acting-Premier),' demanding their right to return immediately, and urging that the Manuka, sailing on May 26, be allowed to take passengers, The meeting alsa' resolved to take action iigainst the New »n!aud Govern, luent for expenses incurred through their detention', in Sydney. The cliiet' contention of tlie speakers was that the real cause of their detention was not the extent of influenza in Australia, but tho allegedly, inadequate quiivantiuc accommodation at the various stations in Nuw Zealand.—Press Assn. m embargoYecessary HON. G. W. KUSSELL'S VIEW. \ The Minister' of Public Health (tho" Hon. G. W. Kusscll) slated last night that tho necessity for the restriction of traffic lo Xtw Zealand irom Australia had been shown very clearly in the easo of the Miiuuka. "The steamer came to Wellington with cirgo from Australia," said Mr. Bussell. "!>he carried no passengers, but members of tho crew had developed influenza, and consequently the crew was put into quarantine.

"No i'ewer than live members of tbo crew of the Manuka have died hero, and this experience in connection- with the •Manuka has created very grave arxiety as to the danger of allowing ilie entrance into New Zealand of the special form of influenza that appears to lie i>m-nlsnt in Australia. Experience goes' to show that when the disease has died nown in cne country and the strength of '■he influenza bacillus is almost exhausted, it wili flame up in a virulent form if tho bacilli are introduced into new hosts. In these |circumstances the Government cannot , fien its way at present to allow tho general -return of people from a place so seriously infected as Australia is and has been.

"As Minister of Public Healtli i am exceedingly sorry that people should be prevented from coining to this country at the present time, but at this season of the year, when climatic and other conditions make a recrudescence of the disease possible, we cannot lake risks. When it is considered also that sporadic cases are showing themselves throughout tlio Dominion, the necessity of maintaining a strict quarantine becomes lttst urgent. I do not think that there is any prospect for a few weeks of the position being changed. N

"Directly circumstances - enable a resumption, of traffic to be made, a restricted passenger service, applying in t!in first place to New Zealandws only, will be allowed under the strictest medical tests before embarkation."