HEALTH ON SHIPS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1932, Page 6

HEALTH ON SHIPS

INSPECTION AT PORTS. . PRECAUTIONS DEFENDED. 1 , WELLINGTON', September 24. Comments by an Australian traveller Ayho took exception to the- procedure of medical inspection Avhen the jVlonowai arrived,in Wellington Inst 'Sunday, were replied to by the Health Department. The tourist alleged' that passengers were paraded on deck in the co-’d, and he considered port inspec^oq.. Ayas uu-. necessary Avhen the ship carried a doctor. •. ■ ' • ' It is pointed out by the Health Department that the medical inspection in - New Zealand ports is much less harassing than the inspections enforced in many parts of the Avorld. With the exception of trans-Tasman traffic, An*-, tralia insists on rigid precautiors, and America is notorious among tourists for its medical inspection at ports.,

Apart from checking .up on infectious disease, port medical offers in New Zealand co-opeyate. with- the Customs and Immigration Depaytment* .ip. preventing the. admission: to_ the country. : crippled '■•and fo.therMTs'eii infittn pet- ; who" might become a charge on the 'State, x

It is not, generally known that theye is seldom an inspection of a parsenger. vessel which -does not result in the case of some individual being- referred to the Customs and Immigration officers for attention. It is the duty of the port health officer to ensure that no person who suffers permanent disability is allowed to land unless a. bond is obtained from the shipping company or some other to indemnify the dtate against expense. ' - Dr T. McKibb’jn, Director of the Division, of Public Hygiene, stated that the ftnedioai" inspection, of the Monowaj' 'last Sunday had been carried out under cover as usual, the mustering of the passengers being pndei control of the ship's; p Akers. The per. ifunctoriness or thoroughness of the examination on any ship depended on tin infectious disease, conditions known fo ho prevailing ip the countries of origin and a.t the ports pouched, .on the voyage. This information wins gleaned from international'. cablegram" ady.ice s or from the ship’s papers. Dr McKibbin said yhe fice’' had an important function in dealing with passengers of all ages from all parts of the world. These peoph had been segregated on board chip lo days and often for som 6 weeks, am they might have acquired infection at any port or through association on the ship. The ship’s'- doctor was in tne employ of the shipping company, any no passenger ny.s obliged to con-ult him. A port authority con'd not safely avoid supervision. A medical expert who has ,had experience of port, inspection stated yesterday that in short voyages there war. no guarantee that the sli'p’?. doctor had ever, seen" all the... passengers. Between •Sydney and New Zealand some passengers did not leave their cabins at all. and i,t was not rare for a port health officer to be requested to inspect passengers in their cabins when they were suffering from indispositions W’.iich. had never* been reported to the ship’s , doctor. ■■ lyhen inspections appeared to be-, cursory it signified that from general information the port health officer was . not expecting any serious iH-ho"l|h. Hr was none the less vigilant, but when there were no grounds for apprehension, passengers wore submitted to the minimum of inconvenience.