SHIPPING QUARANTINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 293, 8 December 1923, Page 12

SHIPPING QUARANTINE.

» "A RADl___~C___JS__.'' XHSCUiSSEO BY HEALTH BOARD. Some curiosity has been aroused by a A-agnely worded telegram from Wellington hinting at _ radical change m regulations' "affecting the medical inspection of " ; vessels arriving from overseas. Wellington papers to hand contain no further information as to the nature of the suggested change The "Post" says: "* I "New Zealand's quarantine system is not, regarded as the -best in the world, nor yet the worst. In England, there is no quarantine system at all. When a ship arrives in Xew Zealand waters with infectious disease on .board, the j passengers are placed in quarantine,' hut not so .in England. There, the infected passengers are sent to hospital, while the others go free, the only condition being that "contacts" have to report periodically to medical officers I for examination. To bring the New Zealand system of inspection of shipping and quarantine into line with Australia, where the most up-to-date methods are employed, might cost anything up to ._100,"o00. The question which the authorities here l.aye to consider is whether t-i remodel the Xew Zealand system, or scrap it m favour of following the English practice. A decision on the subject is expected to be reached shortly, but in any ease a drastic change i's to be made in the medical inspection of shipping in Xew Zealand. The matter was discussed yesterday at a meeting of the Board of Health, at which the Minister (Sir Maui Pomare). presided. The matter had been referred to the hoard by the Minister for its consideration. The decision of the board is not available yet, but it is under- ] stood that the. board has endorsed pro- I posals which will .bring about a radical change in past procedure iii connection with the inspection for health purposes I of shipping arriving from overseas." ' ■ -