PLAGUE RATS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 30, 29 October 1921, Page 8

PLAGUE RATS

HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S PRECAUTIONS MEMBERS SUGGEST ACTION MORE ABOUT A FOWL-YARD The question of precautions against the introduction of plague was raised in the House of Representatives vesterday afternoon by Dr. T. 11. J. Thacker (Christchurch East), who asked the Alinister of Health (the Hon. <!. J. Parr) whether, in view of the alarming reports from Queensland, he was faking “extraordinary, special, and urgent steps” in this country for tho extermination of rats. Dr. Thacker suggested also that as it was well known that fleas were the distributors of the disease he would have precautions taken in the direction of having all flea-bearing animals disinfected by dipping. Air. Parr said that lie was anxiously watching tho situation in Queensland. Ho noticed with regret that there had been nearly a score of deaths in Queensland from plague. He 'had had an interview with" the head of the Department only that morning on the matter. Dr. Valintine assured him that everything that could he done on this side was being done. Precautions were being taken on the wharves despite the inconvenience that this course caused some people.He recognised, however, that this did not conclude the matter. As he had said be. fore, if the cities did not attend to tho extermination of the rat plague which undoubtedly existed in the main centres, it would be difficult if not impossible to keep the plague out of this country. The months which predisposed to tile introduction of this disease through the rat flea were approaching, and hg_ wished to repeat what he had said a'mbnth ago about the urgent need for thejnunicipal authorities at the main ports using every, endeavour to exterminate rats. He remembered that in 1910 tor 1911 the Health Department did no good until it had gone in for the extermination of the rats. The Department was keenly olive to the position, and h'e believed had impressed upon them in the strongest terms that it was the duty of the officers to use every possible effort in this matter. He believed they were doing so. It was also for each of the municipalities to take every precaution. Dr. Thacker? You should have all cats and dogs disinfected. Air. P. Fraser I (Wellington Central) said that he had just received a petition from residents of Upper Cuba Street asking for relief from a plague of rats, caused, they alleged, by a fowl-yard in the neighbourhood. Would the Alinister hove full inquiry made, and bring down legislation if there was not power at pri-sent to deal with a trouble of this kind? Mr Parr said that such a matter was the business of the City Council. He thought that the council had ample powers. If not, it could ask for more powers. But the Alinister of Health could not look into evary person s backyard. The municipalities must do their Af“r Fraser retorted that the matter had been before the City Council many times. The council had endeavoured to grapple with it. But th? District Health Officer apparently did not think that Ins powers covered the trouble.