INFLUENZA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18923, 11 February 1927, Page 8

INFLUENZA.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S PRECAUTIONS. .MINISTER'S EXPLANATION. [THE PRESS Special Service.} WELLINGTON, February 10. In order to clear up apparent misunderstandings iu> to the delay in the granting ot pratique to the steamer lonic, which arrived at Auckland on lues-day, alter cyses of influenza oil board nad occurred in the course ot the voyage, the Minister lor Health i the liou. 'Mr Voting) defined the requirements of his I Apartment in the mat tel. ■ .Mr ioung stated that on January 10th the Director-General of Health, acting upon the Minister's authority, wrote to the Medical Officers ot Health at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin instructing them that, while there was every reason to hope Lliat tiie recent winter outbreak of influenza would be a protection against the epidemic now raging in Europe, it was well to make sure that everything was in readiness to guard our own frontiers against any importations of infection, and to deal with any local outbreaks which might occur. The Director-General jof Health added that he was directed to ask Medical Officers of Health to arrange to convey to Port Health Officers, among other things the following instruction: If on nrrh-al any ship is found to oc infected, or give.', a history of some severe infection on board, no matter at what stage of the voyajre, pratique shall be withheld. In such cases the Port Health Officer shall report the facts to the Medical Officer of Health, who 6hnll personally investigate mattors, wiring the head office a brier statement as to the position and his recommendation! for action to be taken with the ship. The Director-General, on receipt of this information, will wire whether pratique is to be granted, or whether full or part quarantine measures are to be imposed. The Minister said that he considered that was the proper thing to do. The? Director-General of Health was the head of the Department; and was, os it wore, the general manager of a large business concern, whose duty it was to be in touch with all the important actions concerning the busiuess. "I cannot imagine,'' said Mr Young, 'any efficiently and well-managed corporation expecting to carry on successfully when the general manager is not kept fully and promptly advised of all matters of importance affecting the policy and administration laid down by his directors. The general manager must essentially bo held responsible for the consequences of the actions of his subordinate officers. That is what has been done in this case. The Minister has not interfered with the powers of the Medical Officer of Health, working in conjunction with the Port Health Officer, as in this ca6e instructions were clearly set out in. the memorandum of January 10th. "Ordinarily, Medical , Officers of Health have full power tf grant pratique to ships on arrivhl, but I consider that, in view of the reported prevalence and seriousness of the influenza epidemic in Europe, the present circumstances' are extraordinary, and warrant the utmost caution, and justify the restrictions imposed, with a view to giving as far as possible adequate protection to the public."