Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1901. VACCINATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 September 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1901. VACCINATION.

Compulsory vaccination is supposed to be in force in New Zealand, yet surely it is a dead letter: for, according to a return furnished to the Legislative Council, little more than 45 per cent of the children born in the colony are vaccinated. The following return shows the births registered during the past five years and the number vaccinated : Year. Births. Vaccinated. 1896 ... 18,605 ... 11,197 1897 ... 18,733 ... 12,440 1898 ... 18,995 ... 10,349 1899 ... 18,835 ... 5,133 1900 ... 19,545 ... 4,525 94,613 43,644 The return shows a marked and steady falling-off in the proportion of those vaccinated. The proportion of those vaccinated in 1896 was 63 percent, as against 23 per cent in 1900. The question is one that calls for investigation. There is no doubt but that popular feeling at Home, as well as in the colonies, is greatly against vaccination. At the same time if it is such a certain safeguard in case of small pox, as medical science declares it to be, firmer action should be taken to enforce the law than that now used The following return shows the number of prosecutions and convictions for non-compliance with the Act: — Year. Prosecutions. Convictions. 1896 ... 28 ... 18 1897 ... 21 ... 10 1898 ... 13 ... 10 1899 ... 36 ... 16 98 54 ;

The returns for 1900 are not given; but taking that year at the same proportion we find there were in five years 50,960 breaches of the Act, against which 109 informations were laid and 67 convictions secured. It is perfectly clear that far more informa ■ tions should have been laid, or else no. prosecutions should have been proceeded with The 67 persons who were punished have good reasons for complaint, in view of the fact that 50,902 like offenders were allowed to go free. If public opinion is so thoroughly averse to vaccination as is indicated by the foregoing figures, it would be better to repeal the Act. If this is not deemed wise, and it is held to be imperative in the interests of public health to have children vaccinated, then by all means let the law be enforced. Only let medical men be thoroughly sure of their contention ere enforcing upon the people a safeguard they are so palpably opposed to.