NFLUENZA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16558, 25 June 1919, Page 6

NFLUENZA.

AUSTRALIAN MORTALITY. (By Cable.—Press Asfociition.—Copyright (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association MELBOURNE, June St Official statistics show that the q. fluonza death-rate in Australia i s l olrct than in other countries on a population l>asis, the maximum being 16.8 100,000 in Now South Wales, and 18,7 in Victoria. STRANDED NEW ZEA LANDERS. DISTRESS BEGOMLVG ACUTB. (Received Jnne 24th, 10.80 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 24. Owing to rumours that tho militant section of tho stranded New Zonlanden intended to attack tho New ZoaloaJ Government agont's office, polio* guarded tho builiJiug, tut nothing transpirod. Tho greatest resentment, however, is expressed at Sir Jnmes Allon's cablegram, stating tfiat ho is inquiring into tho possibility of utilising oversea steamers to tnko tho Now Zettlanders home, but serious difficulties exist#! regarding quarantine. Many cases of acuto distress are mentioned. Ono man has been without food for four days, and women are pawning their jewollery, oven their wedumg rings, to buy food. *.■ urther conferences with the Seamen's Union and tho Union Company resulted in the seamen definitely r* jecting a proposal to man the Moerald on uio existing conditions, with a proviso that in tho cvont of an agreement boing reached, the conditions be retrospective on the Moeraki's trip. MANUKA TO BE RELEASED TO-DAY.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.)' AUCKLAND. Juno 24. Tho Manuka will bo released from quarantine to-morrow. She will gt alongside tlio Niagara in the streas and transfer her passengers from Australia to the mail steamer. The Niagara is to sail for Vanobuw? at 4 p.m. to-morrow. THE MANUKA'S CASES. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.I AUCKLAND, June 24. Reports from the medical officer at Motuihi quarantine station, show thai tho nine patients transferred from thi Manuka are making very satisfactorj progress with the exception of one man, whose condition on Sunday even« ing was reported to be serious. There is little change in his base. The other patients have the complaint in an extremely mild form only. No now oases have occurred. DOMINION NOTIFICATIONS. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON Juno 24. According to reports received by tho Minister of Health, 25 cases of influenza were notifiod during the week ending June 23rd, seven being pneumonic and one other severe. Two cases were fatal, one being soptic pneumonia at Kawakawa, and the otnor heart failure as a result of influenza at OtaImhu. In Auckland there were seven cases, in Wellington eleven cases (two being pneumonic—on© in the city and. ono at Dannevirke), in Canterbury six inses (one pneumonic, one other severe),' in Otago and Southland one. THE BILL IN NEW SOUTH WALES. STATE'S HEAVY BURDEN. One of the measures to be brought

before the State Parliament when it re-aßßembleß will be a Moratorium Bill, to give effect to the Government's undertaking to bear one-third of fcne losses caused by the < influenza restrio-' tions. The cost will probably be enormous (say the Sydney "Sun" or 9th inst). , Already the Influenza Administrative Committee's expenditure upon relief hospitals, transport, doctors, ana nurses, has exceeded £100,000. The moratorium will probably build the total expenditure up to the quartermillion pounds mark. The notification that the Government would adopt this course does not plainly specify whether or not lasses , indirectly caused by the restriction will be lightened in this way. Claims are coming in in wholesftfs fashion, and are being tabulated ; hr settlement when the Moratorium Hill to be introduced into Parliament shortly after the sessions open. All the theatres and picture shows have made claims. In some caws theatrical entrepreneurs have put in • personal claims running as high as £50 a week. A number of well-known theatrical stars have also pressed their claimß, But the Departmental Committee deai« ing with the matter refused any compensation to persons with a salary of more than £12 a week, and merely gave those below that rate a subsistence allowance. No claim has been received from a hotel licensee. It is believed that this is due to the fact that the bottle trade brought its compensation. Other claims cover billiard saloons, Schools of Art, auctioneers, racing clubs, refreshment rooms adjoining a theatro, bookmakers, printers, caterers. [ The refreshment room keepers point • out that the shutting of the theatres practically shut them down too. The prohibition of racing affected printers of racing publications. Whether the Government intends to share the losses of persons indirectly* though dearly due to the restrictions may be speculated upon after rending the notification, the terms of which can hardly be said to be of crystal clearness.