THE PLAGUE OUTBREAK.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1921, Page 4

THE PLAGUE OUTBREAK.

PRECAUTIONS IN NEW ZEALAND, WARNING TO LOCAL BODIES. KEEPING PLACES CLEAN. By Telegraph.—Press .Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the course of a statement in the House to-day by the Minister of Health on bubonic plague,, he said: “Generally speaking harbor boards throughout the country are waging a vigorous war against rats, but 1 am <by no means satisfied that local bodies are yet alive to the seriousness of the position. Amongst other matters to which I require their attenion are:— “(a) Poison should be given out free and more expert rat catchers should be engaged by harbor boards and municipal councils at ports. “(b) WQiere there is no food there will be no ratg, therefore food and produce stores and warehouses, hotel and restaurant kitchens and storerooms, fruit shops, pastry shops and all fowl runs and rubbish tips should be inspected twice a week by the local authorities* inspectors, and this supervision should be checked by departmental officers. “(c) A systematic examination every week should be made of every backyard, particularly in towns on the sea coast,, and an extra refuse service should (be put on, so that householders may have no excuse. Every householder must realise his responsibility. For. the past month advise and warnings have been given, .but this stage is past. The negligent householder must be prosecuted at once and rigorously, without further warning. I fear that not one householder in five yet realises the seriousness of the position and his ownpersonal duty. I expect local health., boards charged with the duty of local’ sanitation to make an example at once of negligent people. “(d) Should local authorities in any. instance fail in the above requirements! it will <be the duty of the Health Department itself to step in and take tha mater out of the hands of local authorities, charging them with the cost,I have intimated that in view of the grave risk we run tnat any officer in my ( ; department who neglects his duty of strict supervision and control will be summarily dealt with. “(e) Wellington and Auckland receive most of t)he Australian shipping and therefore their risk is the gravest. I am not satisfied tliat sufficient is being done in either city to kill rate, or indeed in any of the cities. Reports this week show that a great number of rodents are still noticeable everywhere. Replying to a question in the House, Mr. Parr said he had considered tha question of stopping all trade between New Zealand and Australia until the plague is stamped out,, but after consulting his officers he came to the conclusion that such a drastic step was not warranted at present.

POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. ANOTHER DEATH AT BRISBANE.NEW CASES REPORTED. ' By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyrls».t. Received Dec. 6, 8.5 p.m. Brisbane, Dec. 6. Another death and several new cases of plague have been reported. Sydney, Dec. 6. As the result of Sydney being declared an infected port all outward interstate vessels now anchor down the harbor for medical inspection. The Health Department urges unsparing war on rats and fleas. Amongst the precautions against fleas they advise tucking trousers into socks and wearing anklets containing paraform tablets. The department does not strongly recommend inoculation of the genera) public with prophlatic serum at the present stage. Inoculation against plague is only a relative safeguard, but anyone exposed to the risk should undergo treatment. Meantime the department is supplying serum to doctors and anyone desiring inoculation can visit a doctor.

FOREIGN EXCHANGES.

THE LATEST RATES. By Telegraph.—Tress Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 6, 8.30 p.m. London, Dec. 5. Following are the current exchange rates, a comparison being given with* the last report (Dec. 1) and par:

Dec. 5. Dec. 1. Par. Paris (fr.) 55.15 55.90 25.255 Stockholm (kr.) .. 16.97 16.88 18.159 Christiania (kr.).. 28.09 28.40 18.159 Copenhagen (kr.) 21.65 21.64 18.159 Berlin (marks) .. 940 780 20.43 Calcutta Is 4d Is 2s Yokohama 2s 4%d 2s 4%d 2s 0%3 Hongkong 2s 8%d 2s 9d 2s Montreal (dol.) .. 4.40 4.38 4.S6® New York (dol.).. 4.05 4.03 4.86®