LEADING AUCKLAND DOCTORS SUPPORT PROHIBITION.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1919, Page 5

LEADING AUCKLAND DOCTORS SUPPORT PROHIBITION.

A STARTLING MANIFESTOj (Published by arrangement). Auckland, April 7. Probably the most interesting feature of a week packed with events of interest is the manifesto in favor of Prohibition appearing in the public press and signed by no loss than 02 of Auckland's leading doctors. The manifesto reads as follows:

We the undersigned Medical Practitioners declare that it is our opinion that the abolition of alcoholic liquor as a beverage in New Zealand will greatly increase the good health of the community: AUCKLAND.

Casement G. Aickin, M.8., Ch.B., Symonds Street. W. M. Beattie, M.8., D.S.C., Mt. Albert. Robert Bedford, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., Mt.

Eden Road. S. A. Bull, M.D., Lond., M.R.C.P., Lond. George L. Cawkwell, M.8., Ch.B., Remuera. C. E. A. Coldicutt, M.D., Edin., D.P.H., Cantab. J. Delepine, M.8.C.M., Mt. Eden. E. Newton Drier, M.D., F.R.C.S., Symonds Street W A. Fairclough, M.8.,. F.T.C.S., Edin, Auckland. P. W Fullerton, M.D., 8.5., M.R.C.S. Q. Toussaint Girdler, Major, N.Z.M.C., Khyber Pass. F. W Gordon, M.R.C.S., Eng., L.R.C.P., Lond., Hillsborough. H. Foster Holmden, M.D., F.R.C..SE., Ponsonby, Auckland. Dr. A. Horsley. P. M. Keller, M.D. Florence Keller, M.D. A. 0. Knight, M.R.C.S., L.S.A. J. Howard La wry, M.8., F.R.C.S.E., 10 Hiuitly Avenue, Auckland. P. A. Lindsay, M.8., C.M., Edin., Auckland. W. M. McCormick, M.8., Ch.B., Remuera. Dr. A. N. McKelvey. Kenneth Mackenzie, M.D, F.R.C.S., Eng., 27 Princes Street. C. E. Maguire, M.6., Auckland Hospital. James Moir, M.8., C.M., Symonds Street. Peter Moir, M.8., Ch.B., Dominion Road. H. M. Northcroft, M.8., Ch.B., Epsom, Auckland. J. Slirigsby Reekie, M.D., Ch.M. James Ritchie, M.8., Ch.B. Dr. James Reid. C. B. Rossiter, L.R.C.P., F.R.C.S. W. G. Scott, M.D,, M.R.C.S., Onehunga. J. Somerville, M.8., C.M.; Alfred Street. W. Howard Thomas, M.8., Ch.B., F.R.C.S, Edin., Onehunga. Leslie J. Thompson, M.B. (N.Z.), F.R.C.S, Edin., Manukau Road, Parneli. W. E. Williams, M.8., Ch.B., Remuera. THAMES. « T. Derrick, M.8., B.S. George Lapraik, M.8., M.S. HAMILTON. A. S. Brewis, M.D., M.R.C.S., L.SA. 0. Brundell, M.8., Ch.B. E. J. Cronin, M.8., Ch.B. Sophia R. Do La Mare, M.8., Ch.B. Hugh Douglas, M.8., C.M. A. Joseph, M.8., Ch.B. , E. T. Roger*, M.D. A. R. Wadell, M.8., Ch.B, | HUNTLY. Charles Low, M.8., A.M. < R. C. MacDiarmid, M.D., D.P.H. TAUMARUNUI. —. Howard, M.8., F.R.C.S.E. VV. C. MacKhight, M.8., F.R.C.S.E. RAGLAN. W. M. Sanders, M.8., C.M. NGARUAWAHIA. D. Martin, M.8., C.L.B. TE AWAMUTU. A. Henderson, M.D. TOKAANUI MENTAL HOSPITAL. A. Crosley, M.D. TE KUITI. J. H. Will, M.8., Ch.B. S. Zobei, M.D. PIO PIO. W. MacLeod, M.8., Ch.B. WHANGAREI AND NORTH. L. Frazerhurst, M.D. J. G. Campbell, M.A., M.D. L. L. Burton, M.D., F.R.C.S. C. Harold Crump, M.R.C.S. E. S. Dukes, M.8., Lond. TE WAIKATO SANATORIUM. G. M. Scott, M.D. MASTERTON DOCTORS SPEAK OUT. NO DRUG HABITS IN NO-LICENSE AREA. (Published by arrangement; Masterton, April 7. One of the surprises of the last few days has been the publication of letters from Masterton's four leading doctors, each of them paying tribute to Prohibition. That doctors in a local No-License area should thus write is in itself a remarkable testimony to the greater benefits which will be derived through National Prohibition.. The letters are as follows: 24 Perry Street, Masterton, April 4, 1919. We are not aware of any case of drug habit in this district contracted during No-License. Under Prohibition we should imagine it would be quite as difficult to procure morphia and cocaine as alcohol, and we 1 fail to see any reason to fear an increase of the morphia or cocaine habit under ! Prohibition. i The regular use of alcohol increases the users' susceptibility to infection in times of epidemic and lessens the chance of recovery when once infected. HELEN COWIE, M.8., Ch.B. J. A. COWIE, M.D., F.L.S.C.E. 1

Masterton, April 6,1919. Since No-License was carried in Masterton I know of no case of drug habit. I io not consider the carrying of NoLicense will have any eifect in inducing the return of the late epidemic. Alcohol is a very useful drug in the treatment of many cases of influenza, 'but it is notorious that the chronic alcohol victims were amongst the worst cases we had to deal with, and v a very large proportion of them died.

PERCY R. COOK, M.8., Chi. Perry Street, Masterton, April 4, 1919. The argument that the giving up of alcohol wiU increase drug habits Is scientifieally unsound, and 1 wonder that It , has not beta refuted by the oo&iuntn ■ .i _.. r *. "

of alcohol themselves, especially the Mod*' erates. I have known of no case of eo« caine or morphia habit contracted in Maaterton under No-License, and no one really expects any in New Zealand under Prohibition. There is a more pressing danger thaii drug habits—the spread of venereal disease—and the consumption of alcohol ia the chief contributory cause of this. There was hardly one of our soldiers who contracted venereal disease during the war but who did so while under the influence of liquor. NORMAN H. PBIOR, M.8., Ph.B. ' INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC. MOKE CASES FROM NIAGARA. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, April 8. Six more cases of influenza are reported from the quarantine station, tho six being from the Niagara, one being among the passengers who were landed. Some of the earlier patients are con; valescent, and the others are making good progress. Auckland, Last Night. The influenza cases from the Niagara increased by seven to-day, maids# & total of fifty-three. Ail were reported to-night to be doing well. Dr. R- H. Makgill, of the Health De» partment, stated to-night that the wbole of the passengers would be landed and " isolated in' groups on the quarantine island. The ship will then be thoroughly fumigated. A few members of. the crew will remain on board, and if no fresh cases occur during the period of • quarantine the Niagara will berth and discharge her cargo. CASES IN NE!W ZEALAND MOSTLY MILD | Wellington, Last Night- ' The Minister for PuHic Health this evening made the following statement regarding influenza notifications throughout the Dominion for the week ended April 7 Auckland City: 14 mild, 3 in one household, Auckland suburbs 2, mild 1, epidemic cbastal shipping, 2 mild. Thames, 1 mild; Waihi, I mild (gastric); Taumarunui, 1 mild;. Bay of Plenty 4 (2 serious); Wihakatane 1 (showing cardiac symptoms), 2 mild; Waipawa G (2 pneumonic); Hawera 4 (1 pneumonic); Stratford 3; Patea 1 mild; Wanganui 9, mild; Palmerston, S mild; Wellington 10 (1 pneumonic); Wairarapn 1, pneumonic; North Canterbury 4 (2 pneumonic, 2 mild); Vincint, 1 mild; Southland 2 (1 mild, 1 pneumonic); tota'l 72. , The Niagara cases are not included in the above. . IN AUSTRALIA. Received April 8, 9.45 p.m. Sydney, April 8. The Board of Health has taken over the buildings at Randwick racecourse for hospital purposes. GREAT MAORI WELCOME. TO GIS'BORNE WAR CONTINGENT. By Telegraph.—Presß Association. Gisborue, Last Xight. The east ooast members of the Muo'.'i Pioneer Battalion, numbering 201 men. arrived by the Mapourika to-day, and were recorded a great reception by lar.'jicrowds. The day was gloriously fine and was made the occasion of a public * holiday. The town was liberally bodecked with bunting. On the arrival of the tender at the wharf, which wna 'ully beflagged, enthusiastic scenes wer? witnessed. The men were drawn up In • the square, and addresses of welcome were delivered by the Deputy' Mayor (Mr H. Hill), Sir Jame« Allen, and representatives of local bodies throughout the east coast districts. The men, headed hy bands, and accompanied by returned soldiers and territorials aii'l cadets, marched through the town amid a bombardment of flowers and confetti and entrained at the railway station for the Park racecourse, to be welcomed home at a Hui Roha. Maoris were present from every pah between Hawkcs Bay and Cape Runaway. The old Maori customs were observed at the reception, and a lengthy programme of hakas, poi dances and poi drama were gone through, and an impressive tangi wn<* held. During the afternoon & big church service was held. Bishop Sedgwick paid a tribute to the Maori aoldieres. At an interval in the proceedings Sir James Allen presented Private Tol Rarini with the Croix de Guerre for an act of gallantry at Ypres. The hui festivities will be oontiniied for a week. THE SOUTHERN MEN. Wellington, Last Night. Fifty members of the Maori battalion arrived to-night by train from Auckland. and were welcomed by the Mayor. Forty-one were for the South Island, and were taken to the Mararoa by the volunteer motor corps.