INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1918, Page 3

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

IN PACIEIC ISLANDS; GROUPS THREATENED WltH DEPOPULATION. ' FEAKFUL DEATH-ROLL AT 1 PAPEETE. San Francisco, Dec. 24. According to- an official on the steamer Moana, which has arrived here, ciepopu lation through Spanish influenza threatens the Tahitian, Solomon, Gilbert, anil other Island groups of the South Pacific. During the week preceding the arrival of the Moana at Papeete, over 800 out of a population of 3700 had died. Scores of people begged the captain for a passage to San Francisco to escape the malady.- The epidemic was so serious that no labor was obtainable for tn« cocoanuf plantations or harvesting tho crops. The Governor is barricaded ift his resident and is transacting business by telephone.

Similar conditions on other islands are reported by trading vessels.—Reuter.

, RELIEF OF ORPHANS. LABOR DEPUTATION TO ' MINISTERS. , By Telegraph.—Bres* Association. Wellington, Dec. ifl. A Labor deputation waited on the Hon. J A. Hanan regarding measuresfor the relief of orphans as the result of the epidemic. In response, to requests by the deputation the Minister agreed that children should not be separated from their mothers where it could possibly be avoided and that mothers should have an allowance. The State would have to pay for maintenance in an institution, but children should be boarded out rather than sent to an institution and the mothers should access to children separated from tli em provided their influence was not batJ. i -. The Minister said that specially qualified women would be appointed to look after boarded out children. It was explained that the policy of the department was to encourage parents in a position to do so to retain their own children and, failing this, to provide proper homes for them. The deputation then saw the Hon. G. W Puissell on the question of allowances to widows and asked that they should receive the same amount as soldier' widows, also that widowers not able !:c afford a housekeeper should be considered. The Minister said the latter was provided for, but the other was a very large question Tt was not the intention of the Government to restrict them to the ordinary widows' pension, but the scale suggested involved so much expense . that Cabinet must be consulted, iuit lie assured the deputation that the money required to give decent treatment to widows and dependents caused bv the emdemic would be found.

jTHE COMMISSION* Mr D, M'Laren has been appointed third member of the Commission of Inquiry into the epidemic. Mr M'Laren is a member of the First Wellington Military Service Board ITa was formerly Labor member for Wellington East, and was Mayor of Wellington for ono termThe Hon. G. W. Eussell says the appointment of Mr M'Laren is practically a recognition of Labor's right to be represented 011 sueh commissions which are concerned with many important matters of deep interest to the mass of the people. [The other members are Sir John Deiniston and the Hon. E.-Mitchelson.]

'ABATIifG AT WAIROA. • • ' Wairoa, 'Dec. 24. Influenza among Europeans li»3 been practically mastered in the district, and the school temporary hospital was closed yesterday. There are still 40 eases in the North Clyde native hospital, and eight in tire convalescent hospital. Whakaki reports 1-J patient.', and 30 convalescent?. The epidemic is abating everywhere and the cases arc milder.