THE EPIDEMIC COMMISSION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16470, 13 March 1919, Page 6

THE EPIDEMIC COMMISSION.

SITTINGS AT WELLINGTON. (press association telegram.) "WELLINGTON, March 12. Before the Epidemic Commission, Captain Munro, traffic managor for tho Wellington Harbour Board, said that whon the epidemic was rifo in Auckland all the sheds and wharves were disinfected, and in inhalation chamber erectcd, through which 5-1,000 people passed. Froo ' disinfectant and gargle wero supplied to the waterside workers. About Nov ember 12th a Health Committee was set up. It also disinfected tho crew's quarters and tho holds or vessels. A clearing station was established on the wharf, an<l sufferers fr°m the ships were sent there to be_ doait with by tho doctors. This was considerou to be one of the best things done. All the mon had to pass through an inhalation chamber in going to and coining from work. Captain Munro said the crews' quarters in some ships wero very bad inueed. Thero had been a considerable improvement in tho majqrity of vessels since. One of the worst things was the provision of bunk hoards which ho thought should be substituted by iron panels which could bo easily lifted in and out. The men \yhp accompanied tho ambulances should bo first aid men. More men should be. encouraged to pass first aid examinations. If a number of such qualified mon wero told off to tho various districts and given a retaining fee thpy could hp mobilised at any tinie. This wpuld prove of immpnso benefit in stamping out an outbreak. He suggested tho retention of epidemic committees on a voluntary basis with a certain amount of drugs and plant, so as to bo ready to act in caso of emergency.

Captain Munro said tho want of ambulances in Wellington a very serious matter, and lie suggested ambulance and street alarms, like fire alarms. He elaborated this idea, and when askod by Sir John Denniston how the organisation was to be kept up, suggested monthly meetings. Sir John Denniston said ho thought there would have? to be some more incentive than .tlip memory of opidemic. Witness suggested something like tho old volunteer system with a certain amount of pliant and drug's ynder their care. Public spirit, he _ considered, would kepQ such aii prganisatipn alive, |»s in the caso of a volunteer fire brigade. In the course of some further discussion, witness said the whole thing was a somewhat largo order. When in a jiew suburb it was found that houses we're being dumped. down practically op top of ond another, it did not give a Health Committee much heart to investigate tho sanitary conditions. Perhaps to\yi}-planning had to do with it.'

Sir Jqhn Dennjston: W^ a l> you really want is spcial regeneration. Witness: Yes, something like that. Sir John Denniston: pi), -well, that is indeed a large order. - H. Baldwin, chairman of tho Hospital ii) the course of his evidence, coijfirpjed Dr. tine's states mpnt that the epidemic revealed a lack of knowledge of home nursing, ape} witness characterised it as deplorable and said the Board supported instructions being given. John Pearce Luke, Mayor of Wellington, gave evidence as to the measures taken to combat the epidemic. Before the outbreak, in anticipation of something happening, he communicated with the chairman of the Hospital Board and the hospital medical superintendent, and with tliem went to see the District Health Officer. Dr. Watt, informed him that thp duties of the City Council were confined to the cleansing of the city and the backyards of the houses of the city. Tho task of dealing with sickness, he said, would be the duty of the Hospital Bpard. Witness then intructed the City Engineer to he doubly careful and stringent in regard to the removal of refuse and the cleaning of the streets, and also to procure quantities ol : disinfectant. Additional men were put tin for this work. Witness explained tjio blocking out of the city and the anpoiptpippt of. ppnumttees to take charge of the blocks. He paid a trjbute to tlid organising ability of Major McClirystell! '.The amendmeut made in the Public Health Act had effected an improvement in many matters, but there would be no satisfactory solution until the whole responsibility for the health of the city was put on the City Council. The City Council was the only body which had machinery to deal with a big epidemic. Thp Hospital Board had not such machinery. He admitted that if this arrangement were made, it would cost the city more money. He did not think that under municipal, as distinct from Government, control there would be liability tp more Blackness in the enforcement of decrpes. ' was sure there would bo no security against disease so long as preventive measures were the concern of more than one authority. The city should be the sole public health authority within the city'. The Hospital Board should keep control of the hospital institutions and charitable aid, and the Government should still deal with shipping. Ho thought there were just as mapy cases ip thp goqd parts pf the city as in the poor parts. The* sickness did not seem tp be any m one part or the city than in any other.'

J)r. Makgill, recalled, said in the then state of their knowledge, it would have been absurd to quarantine the' Niagara; in the light of later knowfedae it might be considered advisable to have quarantined the vessel. He would suggest that three dayp should be the period, and more care should be taken in the isolation of patients landed. He did not consider now that the Niagara sickness was severe, seeing that only ope death occurred on the voyage. .