MAYOR'S MEETING AT TOWN HALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1918, Page 2

MAYOR'S MEETING AT TOWN HALL.

This morning at 9.30 o’clock there was n gathering in front of the Town Hall, the Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry) presiding; Mr J. J. Breeze (chairman of the Charitable ATd Board) was also present. About thirty persons were present. Mr Perry read the following telegram from the Hon. G. AY. Russell, Minister of Public Health: In connection with the epidemic now raging in various parts of the Dominion the want of adequate supply of medical men and trained nurses renders it necessary that the entire strength of the population should be enlisted to meet the danger. The necessity of complete organisation is apparent. To this end every Mayor and chairman of a town board should at once call a public meeting and organise volunteer assistance by enrolling all men and women workers to assist in combating the disease. A bureau should be established either at the local hospital or the borough offices at which should be registered eases of patients in want of nursing and medical attention. The town should he divided into blocks and committees of men and women or boy scouts or any other assistance prevails and thus secure information. deliver medicines and food, and afford other help. Medical men should bo urged to work on the block system in order to avoid loss of time hv overlapping. Lists of the sick should from time to time he handed out from the registration bureau On this method the value of the medical service will be greatly increased and much time saved. For providing food in homes where the family arangements are disorganised it is suggested that the Women’s National Reserve or some similar organisation should undertake the cooking; that the distributing thereof should be made by volunteer labour in motor car or any other way that may bo practicable. It is especially desirable for the pur-

nose heroin stated that the assistance of

the St. John Ambulance Association Women’s Social Societies or other organisations should be brought in. It is not necessary that women who nurse in homes should hold nursing certificates. Those who have had any experience in nursing can obtain advice from medical practitioners of the Public Health Department and do useful service. I make an appeal to the manhood and womanhood of the country to volunteer for this work as our brave soldiers volunteered to fight in the war. We. now have an enemy in our home which has already carried off a very large number, and which unless controlled by organisation and direct 'effort is likely to greatly lessen the population. This is a matter that demands the entire organised strength of the people of the Dominion, and as .Minister of Public Health I make this appeal to Mayors and chairman of Town Boards to create organisations in their different districts for the purpose of helping the Government in this matter . In doing so, I have to remind them that the local bodies are the health authorities for the district they control, and especially upon them rests the responsibility of the sanitary and hygenie condition of the people of their district.

The modus operandi I. have to suggest of dealing with the epidemic lias already been adopted in Auckland and is working with great success. After a general discussion it was resolved that Victoria School be utilised as a temporary hospital, its large rooms, with the cooking apparatus at the Technical School adjacent, being considered very suitable for the purpose. Various appointments were made to put matters in quick running order.

Mr Cederman at once went to canvas the hotels and other places to secure

a supply of bedsteads, bedding and coverings. Mesdames J. H. Wilson and A. IT. Richards were placed in charge of the ladles offering their ser-

,Vices for nuiping and other duties under charge of Dr Teichelmann, and immediate duties were allotted ) a good many ladies offering their services.

Matters were immediately put in train to secure at least twenty beds for occupation, various sub-committees be. ing appointed to carry out necessary duties and requirements.

. Dr 'loichehnann subsequently arrived and general arrangements were appioved, and at once put in train. Jn connection therewith an appeal is being made for old calico print or similar material for use at the temporary hospital.

In connection with the inhalation chamber in the Drill Shed, which was very largely availed of yesterday afternoon and evening, arrangements were made for relays of attendants to he in charge during the day and evening and all residents are invited to take advantage of the same.

Dr Teichelmann supplied the meeting with the following: PREVENTIVE- MEASURES AGAINST

INFLUENZA. 1. h roe ventilation of houses and sleeping in well-ventilated room; 2. Avoid -contact with afflicted persons •

3.—Gargling mouth and throat with one or other of the following lotions, ■miffing same into the nostrils: .

CARBOLIC LOTION, T to 150, procurable at chemist. (Don’t attempt,to mix it yourself);

CONDY’S FLUID, one teaspoonful o half a pint of water. (Don’t attempt to use crystals, but buy CONDY’S FLUID.);

SALT AND WATER, 1 teaspoonful lo half a pint of water. The following lozenges may aTso be nicked occasionally: Forma mint, F.uca. Ivptiis and Menthol.

DIETj plain living and plenty, of moderate exercise.

[per press association-.—copyright.]

NO IMPROVEMENT.

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 14

In consequence of the influenza epidemic. practically the whole of the business and social life of the community is at a standstill. The epidemic is gradual}' increasing among the snipping at Lyttcltou. A second member of the crew oi a big oversea steamer is dead. There were several more deaths at Christchurch Hospital to-day. At a representative open air meeting to-day, the city and suburbs were mapped out into blocks, and arrangements were made for assisting tho sick. Medical depots are also to he established.

nClarence Melrose, aged 40, a gardener \at Kaiwara station, Culverden, was fouhd dead in bed. T! - Fad just return od from. Christchurch suffering severely from influenza. His relatives live at Dunedin and Otaki.

AT WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, Nov

A meeting of citizens to arrange ait organisation to more effectively combat influenza, decided to divide the city into blocks, and district captains and committees were appointed. The Town Hall has been turned into a hospital, also St. Patrick’s College and St. John’s Schoolroom, for the whole of the health district. The Department lias been notified of 135 cases of pneumonia, mostly from the country. Standard influenza mixture is being forwarded to all Hospital Boards to bo sold to the public at cost price.. TIM ABU CvB r TED. TIMARU, Nov. 14. The influenza epidemic has gripped Tininru. A public meeting presided over by tlio Mayor, at which all local doctors were present, was held to-day, and measures were taken to combat the disease. Voluntary workers were Organise to assist the stricken householders. A circular has been issued in __ advance by all the local medical men, recommending precautions to be taken. These include advice to avoid antiseptics to nose and throat, as these inflame the parts and increase the danger .of infection. There are eight eases in Timaru Hospital. Donald Grant, a weU-kuo'ittr'Temuka sheep breeder died of influenza to-day. DEATHS r v ’' ’’YUDIN. DUNEDIN, Nov. 14. Three deaths from influenza occurred at the hospital here to-day.

A NOTH E K POSTPONMENT,

DUNEDIN, Nm

A private wire states the sitting of the Presbyterian General Assembly, called for Christchurch next week, has been postponed indefinitely owing to infhlenza.

ORGANISATION IN WELINGTON

WELLINGTON, Nov. 13.

Authority has been gazetted empower ing District Health Officers to close hotel bars, club bars, or other places for the purpose of checking the spread of influenza. A meeting of citizens was held’to-day to arrange for a form of organisation to more effectively combat the spread of influenza. It was decided to divide tile city into blocks, and district captains and committees were appointed. It was stated that over fifty hospital nurses are stricken and that only about six doctors were working to-day. WATERS!DER S’ STOP WORK. WELLINGTON, This Day. - The New Zealand Watersiders Federation have decided not to work shipping at any port for seven days, owing to influenza. MANY CASES ON MANUKA . SYDNEY, Nov. 14. The Manuka has bene quarantined. She arrived with. thirty-three influenza cases aboard. FERRY STEAMER HELD UP. WELLINGTON. Nov. 14th. There was no ferry steamer for Lyttelton to-day, the Moana being held up through a shortage nf crew,