SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1127, 31 July 1913, Page 3

SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC.

WHO INTRODUCED IT ?

A MORMON DENIAL.

Mr 0. D. Romney, President of the New Zealand Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, writes as follows to the Auckland Herald, under date July 26th : Sir,—inasmuch as it has many times appeared in your paper, as well as in many other papers in New Zealand and Australia, would it not be well to give the facts as they' do really exist regarding this Mormon elder who is charged with having brought this disease from America ? In the first place, permit me to say it is a little unfortunate I- did not know the health officers were having some trouble to locate this elder who is credited with having introduced the disease into New Zealand. I regret that the officers have been put to - some apparent inconvenience in locating him.- Had their desires been made known to me, I would have been pleased to have told where he could be found, also glad to have investigated the case with them to show how preposterous it is to make such a claim against the Mormon elder, for he, like every other elder, had to undergo a medical examination before leaving home, tor no unhealthy, diseased elder, or one who is not physically strong, is permitted to go on a mission. Furthermore, it takes nearly three weeks to make the voyage from Vancouver to Auckland. Then the elder, who has had so much said about him of late, measures 6ft. 3m. in height and weighs over 1431, surely did not pass the the doctors at the Auckland Harbour unnoticed. This elder also spent a few days, in the best of health, at the mission headquarters,' Auckland, before taking boat, for Whangarei. Then in two weeks after being among the Maoris he broke out, but was not confined to his bed at all, and was only disfigured with the sores a few days. The writer knows this to be a fact, for he saw this elder, gave him his appointment in Auckland, and visited him at the:tiflie stated, in the North at Te Horo. This will surely make the matter appear as being absurd for the Mormon elder having brought the disease from America. If it does not, we feel we are entitled at least to this much explanation through the public press.”