“OBSOLETE SYSTEM”

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1930, Page 7

“OBSOLETE SYSTEM”

quarantine regulations. BOARD OF HEALTH VIEW. “It is an extraordinary fact that New Zealand and Australia are the only countries in the civilised world which cling to the obsolete arid objectionable system of quarantine,” said the Hon. W. Triggs, M.L.C. at a meeting of the Board of Health this week. The speakers added that.even the most backward countries had discarded the system. It had been terminated in the East, where the danger" of spreading infection was greatest. Experiences showed that whenever overseas trade was of any value, it was impossible to carry out the detention of ships and the transfer of crews and passengers to quarantine stations without completely dislocating trade. “If a vessel arrives in an English port with smallpox on board those actually suffering are promptly taken off to an isolation hospital, and kept there until they call be safely discharged,” said Mr Triggs. “All those on board, passengers and crew, who show no signs of the disease, are allowed to go about their business after they have given their names and addresses, and undertaken to report to the local medical officer of health at regular intervals for a certain time dependent upon the period of incubation of the disease,” said Mr Triggs. “These per,sons arc kept under careful surveillance, and at the first sign of their having contracted the complaint they are taken off to the nearest isolation hospital.” The system was perfectly effective in England, and surprise was felt that New Zealand should cling to a procedure which had been discredited in England at least 80 years ago, and abandoned nearly 60 years ago, he said.

“The quarantine stations at Somes Island and Motuihi cost a good deal for maintenance and upkeep, and in the present need for economy and retrenchment. the saving caused, by their abolition should be welcomed. Auckland is very fortunate in that the beautiful island of Motuihi, with the exception of the actual quarantine station, has been set apart as a recreation reserve. It is a perfect little paradise and if the existing buildings were converted into a comfortable hostel and the place was well managed, it might easily become a very popular holiday resort. Somes Island is not so attractive but lias its possibilities. I am told that a present the department and Government have to keep in constant readiness stores to the value of £IO,OOO, and there must of course he a custodian to look after them. The occasions are so rare in which the quarantine station has been called into use that this certainly seems an expense which , might very well he stopped.” A resolution was carried asking the Department of Health whether it still supported the views expressed in a report to the Board of Health in 1923 to the effect that English procedure should be substituted for quarantine.