The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1920. SHIFTING THE BLAME.

Southland Times, Issue 18838, 3 June 1920, Page 4

The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1920. SHIFTING THE BLAME.

Southlandcrs have never shown any apti tude for shifting to other shoulders the blame that should fall on their own, and for that reason we are inclined to be impatient of any act, deliberate or otherwise, that puts upon this province the stigma of undeserved reputation. Recent events have shown us that it is high time that this part of the dominion made a protest against the manner in which it is being given the discredit of the present outbreak of smallpox in the south. It is true that we have cases of the tiisease in the mild form, and it is equally true that the local authorities and the headquarters of the District Health stalf, which are in Dunedin, have stated promptly the sum total of the instances of smallpox reported, but a glance at the northern newspajrers discloses that Invercargill is obtaining all the publicity in this matter, while Dunedin is hardly, if ever, mentioned, except as the place of origin of these Press Association messages. It will be remembered that a few days ago the local health officers received official information of the presence in Dunedin of a ease of “definite” smallpox. The fact that “definite” smallpox had appeared in a centre so close to us was a matter of considerable public interest to Southlandcrs and the information was made public. An examination of the Dunedin newspapers at that time, however, did not disclose any reference to it, except in a message from this province, and from that message it was made to appear that this case of "definite” smallpox was in Invercargill. The Dunedin journals later made reference to one case of smallpox “reported from Invercargill” ami a day or so ago we were told from Wellington that precautions were being taken there in view of the outbreak of smallpox “in Invercargill.” We do not suggest that the Dunedin people are deliberately trying to saddle this town with a case of “definite” smallpox that it (Toes not harbour, but it is not too much to s.-,-, that journalistic carelessness is giv.-ng to Invercargill something which belongs to Dunedin. As a matter of fact it has been established beyond any manner of doubt that the disease was introduced into Southland from Dunedin and we have good reason for believing that there has been reported more than one case of “definite” smallpox in the chief centre of our neighbouring province. The question of the extent and severity of the disease in Dunedin is not one that concerns us and we would not venture to dictate to our contemporaries in that city as to the amount of publicity they should give to the number of cases existing there, but when we find Invercargill mentioned in the north as the centre of the outbreak, when this town is referred to in terms suggesting that it contains instances of the disease in a severe form, we think tt is time to protest. If we had a District Health Officer of our own this confusion could not arise and we could not he saddled with a record that we do not deserve. Smallpox did not appear here first, it lias not yet occurred in any but the mild form, and it is therefore not unreasonable for us to suggest to our Dunedin friends that in announcing to the rest of the dominion that the case of “definite” smallpox known publically to exist was “reported from Invercargill” is not playing the game. Southland has every right to demand that it shall not he placed in a false light, that its reputation in the eyes of the other parts of the dominion shall not be besmirched to (he advantage of another province, and we hope, therefore, that our friends in Dunedin will see to it that the incidence of the disease is correctly stated.