EPIDEMIC COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1919, Page 5

EPIDEMIC COMMISSION.

IN CASE OF ANOTHER OUTBREAK. HEALTH MINISTER'S SUGGESTIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At the Epidemic Commission, Hon. G. W. Russell made another statement. He said splendid services were given by voluntary workers, hut he l'earcd in the ease of another outbreak we might not safely rely on volunteer labor. He sugested an organisation which might be developed for division of the cities into blocks and the administration of work in those areas. At the head of this organisation would be the chief health officer. Among suggestions were that this officer or his deputy should have power to commandeer buildings for hospitals, motor-cars, fruit, and the services of doctors and nurses. The Government had had recourse to the War Regulations for these emergency measures, but there would be no war and no war regulations presently, and he thought there ought to be power under the Public Health Act to take these emergency measures. In the event of nations prohibition being carried, the Public Health Department would have to carry stocks of alcohol for medicinal purposes. To get this medicine people would require to have certificates, and arrangements would be made for Government doctors to give these certificates free of charge. Legislation would be necessary to give the Government power to arrange for the burial of the dead and to fix the cost of funerals.

In"the event of anotlfcr epidemic, the Government would have to consider whether part of the cost would not have to be borne by the local authorities. In this case it had been all borne by the general Government, and the total cost 1 would not be less than a quarter of a million.