THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1915. AN INJURIOUS CANARD.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 112, 14 January 1915, Page 4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1915. AN INJURIOUS CANARD.

It'has been said, with some degree of truth, that one has to go from home to learn his true character. We are perplexed by a paragraph, that is going the rounds of the newspapers, which states, unqualifiedly, that diptheria and typhoid fever are "''rife" in Taihape. We were not aware of anything of the kind being the case, and. on consulting the Health authorities we learn that them are no grounds for the statement. The Health Inspector's report for November, the latest report made, shows that, throughout the whole of the territory over which the Wanganui Hospital and Charitable Aid Board has jurisdiction, there were only two cases of typhoid. One of these was p Gonville, Wanganui, and thje other was at Taihape. One death from diptheria was reported as (having occurred in the Raiigitikci County, and one in Taihape was

receiving hospital treatment. If the old aphorism: "One Swallow doesn't make a summer," is dead, why is not typhoid fever also rife in Gonville, or diptheria in Eangitikei, or consumption in Wang'anui? For if typhoid or dipt! eria is rife ill Taihape with its on 3 ease, then consumption must bq more than rife in Wanganui with its two cases, 100 per cent, increase. There was another case of typhoid among the Taihape Maoris some months ago, but last November's report says, "The Maoris in the Taihape district are also ■ now clear of Typhoid." We have inquired of the authorities whether any new cases, reported or'unreported, exist, and they sa|j emphatically that they have heard nothing Avhatevcr about anyifresn cases. , As the Health Inspcctor,in. his official report, says, /'The lieturns for this month ai*e, I ; consider, very satisfactory,' ■ "it won id be interesting to know with which journal the obvious canard or exaggeration originated; it would also interest Taihape people to know who supplied the information. It amazes one to see to 'what extremes some people's vicious, or untrustworthy habits may carry them. We have unreservedly stated all that can be learned ah out the existence of infectious diseases in Taihape, and we say further, that we do not believe there is a hospital and. charitable aid board, with a district of a similar population, in New Zealand, that can show a more favourable report than that issued by the Wangaiini Board; the Health Inspector, in his report, considers the he'altn position very satisfactory. We are not going to suggest that the originator of the falsely exaggerated report had any sinister intentions; in all probability i[ was what many people would term, criminal thoughtlessness. The originator didn't: realise that peopel in other parts of New' Zealand having parents;, brothers or sisters, or'other relatives in Taihape, would be concerned upon reading such a.paragraph, nor. did they think letters would arrive here asking to what extent the disease was rampant, and suggesting that their relatives should take a holiday till the worst of it Avas over. It is unfortunate that such a canard should gain currency just ai this time and it is to be hoped thr! the silly credulity of amat rv newsmongers will not be imp. d upon in any similar way ir ' "1tnrc- Before a report of that Injurious nature is given currency one ought to be sure of his facts.