EPIDEMIC PRECAUTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 64, 15 March 1919, Page 14

EPIDEMIC PRECAUTIONS.

SUGGESTIONS BY MINISTER. ("By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The Minister for Public Health, the Hon. G. VV. HusselJ, made another statement before the Epidemic Commission today. He said splendid services were given by voluntary workers, but he feared that in the event of another outbreak we might not safely rely on volunteer effort. He suggested an organisation which might be developed for the division of the cities into blocks, and for the administration of the work in those areas. At the head of this organisation would be the chief health officer. Among his suggestions were that this officer or his deputy should have power to requisition buildings for hospitals, motor-care, 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 regulations presently, and he thought there ought to be power under the Public Health Act to take these emergency measures. In the event of national prohibition being carried, the Public Health Department would have to carry stocks of alcohol for medicinal purposes. To get this medicine people would require 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 th-s burial of the dead and to fix the cost of funerals. In the event of another epidemic the Government would have to consiSer whether part of the cost would not have to be borne by local authorities. In this case it had all been borne by the General Government, and the total cost would be not less than £250,000. The Commission adjourned till Monday.