WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1918, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

I - ! STAMPING OUT EPIDEMIC, ! Wellington, Nov. 10. Speaking in the House this afternoon in answer to questions, the Minister for Defence said that the Defence Department had done a great deal to assist the civilian authorities in dealing with the epidemic. Doctors and trained personnel had been spared as much as possible in order that the civilian staffs in the various districts might he reinforced. DEMOBILISATION, Seme members of the House, continued the Minister, had been urging that the 12J)00 men now in the military, camps ■ought to be demobilised with greater speed. The Defence Department, as a matter of fact, had been proceeding with the demobilisation, quietly and without advertisement. The camps had been divided into sections, in order that the men might be classed medically. The men who had not suffered from the disease and who were clear of contact with it were being got away as fast as was wise The convalescent men were [kept apart, and they were allowed to leave after they were pronounced by tho | medical officers to be clear. He hoped to pat- a large body of tb,e convalescent men out of the camps during the present week. DANGER OP INFECTION. The Defence authorities realised that where men were gatttored together in large numbers there was increased danger of infection. For that reason every possible step had been taken to scatter the soldiers. It had not been advisable to discharge them from the camps, since they then would lhave carried infection all over New Zealand. But all the available (buildings had been used in order to distribute the men more widely than would be. the case under ordinary circumstances. It wa3 an unfortunate thing that most of the tents at Featherston had been destroyed by a hurricane right at the Beginning of the epidemic, but the Department has secured other tents from all parts of New Zealand. i iJ'Jih MUST COME riACK. The Minister said he wished it to be understood clearly that men who had left the camps on sine die leave were not expected to come hack. They .vould be disobeying orders if-they did come back. They were regarded for all practical purposes <is being discharged, and they would not be dmitted to the vamps if they did return. The discharges that were taking place day by day were leaving more space for the other men and so helping the medical officers <x right the epidemic, 'Mr Attteey (Waitaki) suggested t'.iat the Defence Department should take special arrangements for the men to set to their homes where necessary. We mentioned that men for the 'outli Ji.'i.l been kept waiting about Wellington for throe dayi\ 'because there was no steamer available. DIFFICULTIES OF TRANSPORT. Sir James 'Allen, said the Department was trying to arrange with the Uuion Cc. for special steamers for the use of the soldiers. The difficulty in the way was the influenza eoidemic- The Company could not get crews for the ships that were available. The Government steamers Hmemoa and Tutanekai could be used to epnvey soldiers if crew 3 were But he was informed that the Marine Department had been unable to keep these steamers manned. The influenza seized the men more quickiy than they could be taken on. THE WORK OF THE SESSION. Answering a question put by Mr W. H. Field (Otaki) in the House to-day, the Prime Minister 9aid it was impossible to make a definite statement regarding the work of the session. A further adjournment was being forced upon the House by tho influenza- There was a lot of important work to be dealt with. He would not say that none of it could be held over, but some of it must proceed, Financial proposals must be considered, estimates must be passed and supply must be voted for the recess. He could not express any opinion as to how long the recesg would last. The Liquor Bill was now being printed and would be referred ba.ck to Cabinet and possibly amended, the Bill' would he presented to the House and he hoped it would then be dealt with without waste of time. He would like to get it through in a day or two- Bills of that kind often had a tedious passage through Parliament, but he hoped the present Bill would be an exception.