OUTBREAK OF INFLUENZA

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23086, 31 July 1940, Page 10

OUTBREAK OF INFLUENZA

MEN FROM ADDINGTON CAMP PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL AT BURWOOD Between 90 and 100 military patients, principally from the Territorial camp at Addington, are in hospital at Burwood with mild influenza. Sir Hugh Acland, Assistant-Director of Medical Services, said last evening that the number from Addington was about 15 per cent, of the total m camp there, but a fair amount of influenza was natural at this time, and the outbreak was causing him no anxiety There was no hospital at Addington, and consequently every man oft sick from the camp there had to be sent to the city or Burwood. Sir Hugh Acland said that the Burwood Hospital was capable of handling 200 patients, but this outbreak was by no means as big as the recent one at Burnham. There were fewer men at Addington, and a considerable number of them lived at home and went to the camp for training If they had influenza they did not necessarily go to hospital, but could stay at home. During the Burnham epidemic, about 500 of the 2500 men who went into the camp were handled by the hospital. He did not anticipate by any means as many as that this time. The warm sunshine would do much towards getting rid of the trouble. MOUNTED RIFLES SQUADRONS ELLESMERE UNIT TO BE FORMED DETAILS OF REQUIREMENTS Details of the formation of the No. 8 (Ellesmere) Mounted Rifles Squadron for home defence, for enrolment in which applications may now' be made to the registration office at the King Edward Barracks, were provided yesterday by the area staff officer, Lieutenant-Colonel R. B. Smythe. Other squadrons being formed in the South Island are Marlborough (No, 6). Nelson (No. 7). and Taien (No. 9). The Ellesmere Squadron will be drawn from Banks Peninsula and the vicinity, and headquarters will probably be in Christchurch. Its formation will be completed as soon as possible. Personnel will be recruited from married men between tjje ages of 25 and 55, and unmarried men between 45 and 55, of the following classes: returned soldiers, former territorials, members of rifle clubs, and deerstalkers. Medical standards will be as for battalions of the National Reserve, class 11, recently formed. Clothing will be on the same scale as for the National Military Reserve, with rifle and bandolier equipment. Training, with pay, for 40 days at year, as for the National Military Reserve, class 11, is authorised. Those offering their services must be in possession of a suitable horse and saddlery. Recruiting is (o be carried out immediately on a basis of seven officers and 140 other ranks. ELECTRICIANS FOR HAREWOOD MEN INSTRUCTED TO REPORT The follow’ing have been instructed to report to the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station, Harewmod, for a recruit course as electricians:—Brook, H. A. (Auckland): Cato. I. M. (Napier); Chalmers, A. H. (Wellington); Hopwood, W. G. (Christchurch); Houghton, L. S. (Palmerston Nonh); Jameson, G. P. (Christchurch); Johnston, J. M. (Wellington): Kerr, B. A. (Nelson); Linton. J. B. (Hawera); Padman, N. B. (Wellington); Rogers, C. P. D. (Pio Pio); Saveli. I. S. (Palmerston North); Shaw. J. L. (Christchurch): Shearer. S. (Auckland); Tout, R. E. (Nelson); Wainwright. W. J. (Wellington); Webb, F. L. (Invercargill); Whiteman. J. B. (Lower Hutt): Wiren. D. M. (Wellington): Wright, R. J. (Martinborough). RECRUITS IN CENTRAL DISTRICT (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 30. Enlistments in, the Central Military District up to the closing of the voluntary system on July 22 totalled 39,548. Of those so far medically examined, 11.899 were passed fit. 2298 were permanently unfit, and 7764 were dispatched to camp. There arc at present 1186 names on the temporary unfit list. SOLDIERS RETURN FROM CAPE TOWN MEMBERS OF SECOND ECHELON (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 30. Four New Zealand soldiers, all Aucklanders, who went overseas with the 2nd Echelon, have arrived at Wellington. They were taken ill aboard the troopships, and were landed at Cape Town for hospital treatment and remained there four weeks before taking passage to New Zealand. “We -don’t know what’s going to happen at the moment, but we expect to go overseas later on.” said one. “Oh, boy. What a surprise is in store for our people in Auckland. They hqve no idea we are back.”