The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1919. INFLUENZA COMMISSION'S REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1919. INFLUENZA COMMISSION'S REPORT.

j In presenting their report, the members of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the influenza epidemic apologise for the length of time occupied, the cause for which is stated to be that the Health Department, including tho Minister, avowedly considered that the department was on trial, and, in consequence, prepared and presented numerous reports on a variety of subjects. The truth of this assertion is conclusively proved by the closing words "of a lengthy presentation of tho department's views by the Hon. G. W. Russell (the Minister in charge), who says: "I fear the commission was less concerned to be just than to try and prove the Health Department lacking." The public can, by carefully reading both the report and the Ministor's defence, easily arrive at where the blame is to be placed. In his desire to vhitowash the department—and himself —the Minister has protested too much. The commissioners find that although severe influenza existed, in New Zealand prior to the coming of the Niagara, they are not satisfied that any of Jjiiese werß-ohowa-to. be .cases of the ej>U e

demic form of disease; also that the cause of the introduction of the epidemic into New Zealand was the conveyance by the sea of the infective element of 'the epidemic lately prevalent in Europe, ■Britain, South Africa and America. The eommission considers that the evidence raises a very strong presumption that the Niagara was a substantial factor in the introduction of the epidemic, though it does not exclude the possibility of other sources. Undoubtedly the virulent form of the epidemic, so far as the Dominion is concerned, started in Auckland and spread from there all over both islands, numbers of cases being definitely traced to that source. It is important t"> note that the eommission considers that official action before, in and about the release of the Niagara showed either the non-recognition or disregard of the gravity of the position described in the wireless message of October 11. This directly places the blame on the Health Department, the authorities of which were well aware of the existence of influenza in a bad form on the Niagara. But, apart from this, surely the Department must have read the cables relative to the deadliness of the epidemic in other countries. Why, then, did they not take precautions to keep it out? The Minisi admits that the disease became much more deadly a week or two after the arrival of the Niagara, and quotes the evidence of Dr. Maguire to the effect that the first influenza cases began to come into hospital from the same date as the arrival of the Niagara; yet he contends that "No sane person would suggest that these had been infected from the sliip." We are, therefore, asked to believe'that the members of the commission, the Auckland doctors and the public generally are all insane—that the whole community is out of step "except oor Jock." The Minister also says that no warning was given him as Minister of Public Health that it was necessary to prepare for "a possible inroad of this pandemic to this country." Whether these words were carefully chosen or not it is not necessary to consider. That a definite warning was given to some one in authority, and that the nature of the disease was known from experience in other countries, appears to be clear; also that the failure to cope with the danger caused the loss of many lives and an infinity of sorrow and suffering. When it suits the purpose of his argument, the Minister poses as a layman; yet he does not hesitate to brush aside or decry professional views that reflect on his administration. The whole of his defence aggravates rather than extenuates the action of his department, especially as he admits that the influenza on the Niagara "grew in virulence (from the departure of the ship from Suva) until on arrival in Auckland there were undoubtedly some serious cases on board." In spite of Mr. Russell's veiled abuse of the commission, its findings follow what have been p?oved to be facts. That the department stands condemned is only what was expected, and the Minister has gone out of his way to add fuel to the flames. We venture to think that had not the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward been passengers by the Niagara, the department would have shown a keener disposition to adopt precautionary measures.