DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14758, 30 August 1913, Page 12

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE

MR V. REED'S STATEMENT

POSITION IN THE NORTH,

FAILURE OF THE LYMPH

(SfECIAI, TO "THE PRESS.")

WELLINGTON, August 29

A question in regard to the prevalence of smallpox in the North was put to the Minister of Public Health (tho Hon. 11. Heaton Rhodes) this afternoon by Mr A. M. Myers. Mr Myers asked the Minister whether his attention had been drawn to the statements made in Auckland by the member for the Bay of Islands (Mr Vernon Reed) in regard to the epidemic amongst the Natives in the North of Auckland. Ho hoped that the Minister would inform the House what -was being done in regard to this important matter

Mr Reed said that some of the statements that he had made had been misconstrued by the Tress. Having heard that the extent of the epidemic in the North was much more serious than had transpired, he had recently paid a visit to his electorate. He had found that the position was very grave. He made exhaustive investigations and found that the disease had been raging there for some months. It had been shown beyond doubt that the disease had started in the same way as it had started in Australia. It had been conveyed both to Auckland and Sydney by a "steward on the steamer Zealandia. He had been informed on good authority that when the steamer reached Auckland the steward was found to bo suffering from an infectious disease, and was isolated on the steamer. No notification, however, had been sent to the Health Department. It was also asserted that a Mormon who was on tho same steamer was in contact with the steward, and - - contracted the disease, and that he afterwards went to the North and held several meetings of Maoris, thus spreading the infection. Tho missionary could not, of course, be blamed, as he did not know what ho was suffering from, and when he became aware of it, he did his best to isolate himself. The disease had started in a very mild form, and many of the cases had not been reported to the Health Department. The however, afterwards became much more virulent, and most of the cases that had been treated in hospitals were of a conflu"nt na Mi re. whilst mmv <-.\' uiptti wrre of a malignant character. He did not think that the people realised the seriousness of the outbreak. He was reported to have said tnat there were two thousand cases in his electorate, but ho did not say that. What he said was that it was estimated that had been at least 2000 cases in the North since the epidemic started.

Sir Joseph Ward:' How many deaths have occurred?

Mr Reed: I cannot say how many Natives havo died. It is'stated that many hay? died in the bush, and that their deaths have not been recorded. Speaking in regard -to the Ivmph. M~ TJeod said that it was unfortunate for the NntiTes and the HraHh Department that the Ivmph had absolutely foiled. Had this not been so, the disease would havo been well in hand now. One doctor luul told him that whereas hp hr-id formerly obtained 95 per cent, of "takes," he had not durira: the present epidemic been able to obtain more than 20 per cent. One doctor had vaccinated between thirty and forty Native children, but only three had "token." If tlie Xatirre were successfully vaccinated even now. the disease could very easily be held in

check. Out of one European family of ten, three only had eseniwd , and they had been vaccinated, whilst the seven who .caught the disease had not been vaccinated Mr Hood was proceeding to speak in regard to the efficacy of vaccination, when ho was interrupted by Messrs Ell and Wilford, who objected to the discussion •on the ground that there was no motion before the House. Sir Joseph Ward asked whether the Minister could state officially whether he was satisfied that the disease was really smallpox. How coind a man s;o throush the country suffering from the disease for weeks and sti.l be alive. if ho really had smallpox? The history of smallpox showed that its victims died oft' like flies. , Mr Young: No, they don t. Other Members: No, no! The Minister, in replying, said that over since the disease broke out the Department had treated it as smallpox. There wero some doctors (including one at who still expressed doubts, but he was advised that it was smallpox. At first it was thought that the disease was a form of smallpox both in Australia and Now Zealand, but now the doctors in both places were agreed that it was smallpox. M.r "Rhodes said in regard to tho statement that 2000 Natives had been afflicted by the disca-se, until he received further information, ho would be inclined to think thai* that statement was an exaggeration. He was told that there were only 8000 Natives i'l the North of Auckland —(Mr Reid: There are 10 0 .<)■ —and he could not bolievo that 25 per cent, of thorn wore afflicted with smallpox. As to tie number of deaths, it was that some luwl occurred, and that the bodies had boon buried without notification. As to the failure of the lymph, ho did not know the cause, but he was sorry to say that it had failed. In order, however, that the work of rovarcinntion micht bo ca-rcl cut without delay, he fcfld arranged for twelve students from the Ihirodin Modical School to goto the North, and th r y had left by today's train for Auckland. They wou'd be able to soon run through the country and re-vaccinato all tho Natives.