MOVEMENTS OF CHILDREN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21972, 22 December 1936, Page 12

MOVEMENTS OF CHILDREN

POWERS OF MEDICAL OFFICER APPEAL TO PARENTS DANGERS OF TRAVELLING TO INFECTED AREA A threat that he would use the plenary powers with which he is armed by the Minister for Health to prevent children travelling to the infected areas was made yesterday by the Medical Officer for Health for the Canterbury.-Wcstland district, Dr. 1. Fletcher Telford, when he told a reporter of his amazement when he learned that certain parents wished to take their children on a visit to the infected areas of Qtago. "I was very surprised when I heard of the intentions of these people," he said. "It is certainly not a fair thing to take children into a district where they run a definite risk of contracting the disease. "It is my intention to oppose such movements to the utmost, and I have the necessary plenary powers from the Minister to enforce it. I hope that these people will take note of this and act accordingly, as I do not wish to have to give statutory notice in each case. However," he said, "I am quite determined about it, and I am prepared to take those steps if the parents will not see reason." No definite steps were being taken to isolate Dunedin, Dr. Telford said, although in such cases as those he had just referred to some action was necessary The Director-General of Health, Dr M H. Watt, could give authority for the Railways Department to refuse to carry children to or from Dunedin, and if that was done inspectors would also be required to watch the m^ n do hi r S ot W w y ant to make it unreasonable but people must be sensible, he remarked. "On the other hand there will be no interference with the return to Dunedin of those whose homes are there " A reporter was told by the guard of the north-bound train from Dunedin which arrived at Christchurch last evening that the number of children leaving that city was very small. He thought that there were no restrictions on travelling from the city, but in recent days the number of children on the north-bound expresses had seldom exceeded 12, and this number, ha thought, was rather smaller than the number usually travelling at this time of the year. The camp at Methven attended by more than 250 members of a religious sect was broken yesterday, the overseer, Mr W. J. Hughes, remarking that there was no sign of sickness of any kind. It is likely also that other camps will be abandoned, the most recent decision being one made yesterday to abandon the Presbyterian Bible class conference to have been held at Wanganui. This was to have been attended by between 500 and 600 delegates from all parts of the Dominion. Under instructions from the Health Department the gala to have been held at The Pines beach, Kaiapoi, on Boxing Day, has also been abandoned.