INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1919, Page 7

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

ABOOT THE NIAGARA EVDENCE OF HEALTH MDOSTBR. COST ABOUT QUARTER OS A By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, March IS. •Before the Epidemic Commission the Hon. G. W. llnssell mentioned the various portfolios he held to emphasise the fact that tho Health (Department was of such tremendous importance to the country that the Minister in charge should not be weighted with so many other offices, He made no complaint, but said that be felt that the Minister should have more time for study and :researcji. The country needed educating up to the idea of specially qualified men and this could only be obtained by paying adequate, remuneration.

The present position was that the officers had not the necessary time for | stndy and research to keep abreast of matters essential to the interests of the department. In April last he lad given instructions for the division of tie department into two sections, scientific and mechanical, the latter headed by a secretary, and had also projected a scheme for tie reconstruction of the health districts, the number of which should bo greatly increased. He was satisfied that four officers couid not eon* trol the health of the Dominion. He als« laid down that the position of the chiei sanitary inspectors in the cities should be Taised so as to let them relieve the health officer. There should he an spector-gene*al of hospitals and a chief health offlesr to consider the hearth of: the Dominion alone. Every five years I officers of the department should visit I other countries to keep abreast of modern methods.

The speaker felt it was necessary to hnnself to say that no warning was given him as Minister that it was necessary that New Zealand should take steps to prepare for the inroads of the disease into the country. On December 27 fee got a letter from the Seamen's Union drawing attention to the epidemic in ships and urging isolation, fumigation and innoculation. Five days before the arrival of the Niagara the letter was referred to the Chief Health Officer (Dr. Watt), who said that the sngeestions would mean hoidins? up every ship for nn indefinite period and this drastic step would hardlv be warranted by what was common influenza. He did not recommend inoculation. That repor? was received two days before the arrival of the Niagara. Regarding that vessel, he said the port health officer was instructed to take a certain step to ascertain the condition of tliose on board and the exact nature of the disease before allowing the ship to berth or any communication to be held. He also notified the Governor that as influenza was not a notifiable disease the ship could not be quarantined because it had influenza aboard, but, if necessary, the proclamation of authority for such a step would have to be issued immediately. The, Governor concurred, but expressed Tegrot if he were compelled -to do it. The plain position was that the two leaders of the Government were on the ship, and the speaker telegraphed to them. Doctor Hughes replied that there had been one death from tracho-pneumonio, following influenza, and that the disease was common influema. Only two passengers from New Zealand were suffering from the flweape.

The Hon. G W Russell slid he instructed that the ship should be cleared. The statements of both AncMnnd papers went to show that the allegations that the disease originated with the arrival of the Niagara were entirelv unfounded.

The chairman ruled that newspaper articles were not admissible as evidence, but after hearing the evidence, based on flip KegistraHSeneraTs r=r«orfc, raid that no douSrt sporadic influenza was in existence, fcot the doubt ws« whether the subsequent virulent form was a separate visitation or was a direct following on the milder type. The Hon. G. W. Russell mentioned at a premutation of the epidemic certificates thai in Africa the dicease "had ■attacked even balboons and destroyed ■numbers.

A hundred thousand sterlrn? bad alrepdy been expended bV the Government and a further hundred thousand might be asked for. Tho total cost would reach a miarfer of a million. He considered the experience gained would en: «Wb the Department to cope with further outbreaks with far less expense. A BIG MAORI GATHEWNG. Hamilton. March 13. A meeting of the Raglan County Council nnanimousiv resolved to request the Minister of Public Health to veto the big Maori mee'.ing at Nganrawahia next week, in view of the possibility of the recrudescence of the inflnenm epidemic.

I IN VELBOORNE Melbourne, March 13. There have been three woro deaths from influenza. MASKS IN FRISCO FACTOR IN STAMPING OUT DISEASE. Mr. J. A. Browne, M.L.C., who arrived in San Francisco on January 21, and left en route for Sydney on the Ventura ou February 4, had a interesting story to tell the Sydney Morning Herald in regard to the influenza outbreak. There had, said Mr. Browne, been a serious outbreak of pneumonic influenza in Ran Francisco tlree weeks prior to his arrival. When at its height the wearing of masks was made compulsory, but when it cased off somewhat, compulsion was lifted. Within a week tlie epidemic had broken out again, more severe than ever, and the order for the compulsory wearing: of masks was "bnoe enforced, and kept in force until Fehruarv 1, When the order for the renewal of masking wa.s re-enforced, about 300 to 400 were being daily affected by the disease, and the deaths averaged from in to SO. When ihe masking was annulled, the deaths were down to four dnilv and the medical officers, in the ordinance annulling compulsory masking, stated that thev regarded compulsory masVin? as beinn: largely responsible for so nromptlv eta pining out the disease. But said Mr. Browne, although there T"\<! \\n compulsorv mapWng business, tV went on iust n* usual. !s i »''tv of pleasure, n'l fm 1-ncr.vfq •"."cm op»p find in ful swbp. He and Mrs. Browne visited

theatres and music-halls, and these wero att open, 'without any restrictions, save .that all patrons were supposed to be masked, and this order was, on tie whole, honorably carried out. The theatres announced they had been fumigated and disinfected, but the audiences went in and out without having to pass through any inhalatorium. There werg Bome who did not strictly adhere to the masking order, but, so far as be could 9ee, tho workmen and business men all conscientiously carried out the order. The onlv real defaulters were the plea-sure-seekers. All the saloons and cabaret? and the thousand and one attractions of this city went on as beforg, as also did the schools and churchtß. On tho other hand, when they robbed Honolulu, inflnenza.was racing there, the deaths on the day of -irrivdl being 25; yet there was no masking, but :■ places of anni'i'Tnetit and Tonsure resorts, as well ;»' :>M churches, were closed. This, said Mr. Brc'showed the fijilerr-cco nf opinion amongst two Rets of roed'cal officers in der.Vnc with a disease that seemed identical in form in both centres, and which, to all appearances, was the same disease as had worked such havoc in New Zealand.