SAILORS' VIEWPOINT

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 65, 19 March 1919, Page 7

SAILORS' VIEWPOINT

REGARDING THE EPIDEMIC LETTERS TO MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COMMISSION.

The Wellington sittings of the Influenza Epidemic Commission • were continued this nrorning., Sir John Dennislon presided, with, him being Mr. D. M'Laren, the Hon. E. Mitchelson not being well enough to take his seat.

The first witness this morning was William Thomas Young, general secretary of the New Zealand Federated Seamen's Union. He said the first intimation his organisation received as to the epidemic was early in September. It appertained to the Moana, Mokoia, and Tahiti. The information regarding the Tahiti came through the medium of the press, showing that six members of the crew had died after leaving the West Indies. The information as to the Moana. came from the crew, and was to the effect that, with the exception of four men who went ashore at Papeete and got intoxicated more or less on rum, almost all the crew were ill, though not to a very great extent. The position in regard to the Mokoia was that she came from Australia, and the crew was affected much the same. Both the cases of the Moana and the Mokoia were in the early days of September^ Then the executive of the union communicated with the Minister of Public Health, making some recommendations, including isolation, fumigation, and inoculation. A committee was also appointed to assist in carrying out the recommendations. Oil 25th October the union received a reply from the Minister {which, with other correspondence, was read by Mr. Russell the other day). The Minister could not agree to the carrying out of the suggestions made by the union.

On 20th November another letter was «ent to, the Minister, again urging ths "holding-up" of ships, and ■ expressing the opinion that srich a course (including the Niagara) would have resulted in the fact that the disease would not have got such a very big hold on the country and many valuable lives would have been saved. In regard to fumigation, the second letter to the Minister referred to the fact that while he had expressed the opinion that fumigation would be of little use in preventing the spread of the disease, the Niagara and a number of other ships were being fumigated on the authority of the Health Department. In regard to inoculation, the second letter to the Minister referred to the activities of the New South Wales authorities in the matter of experimenting with inoculation as a preventive measure in influenza. The letter again criticised the Minister and the Department for what the executive council of the union considered the dilatory manner in which the epidemic had been coped with. The remainder of the letter, as read by Mr. Young, dealt with instances on shipboard in Wellington where, through the lack of attention, seamen had died, and the necessity for the provision of better quarters for the crews ; also expressing the opinion that while influenza was existent in New Zealand before the arrival of the Niagara, there was no doubt that the latter event contributed greatly to the spread of the disease throughout the country. Continuing, Mr. Toons read further correspondence between the executive of the union and the Minister (already published). .

HOW MERCANTILE MARINE SUFFERED. Proceeding, Mr. Young gave details of further recommendations of the union to owners for the improvement of the living quarters of the crews on various vessels. In reply to a suggestion from Dr. Valintine, he (Mr. Young) had stated that the union was not inclined to place the health of its members in the hands of Captain Hale Monro, who looked at such matters largely from the employers' point of view. Dr. Valintine resented this suggestion, and then Mr. Young replied that Captain Monro, when the evil was pointed out to him, agreed that the improvements suggested in the quarters of the ships were absolutely necessary in the interests of public health. Then Dr. Makgill, for the Chief Health Officer, wrote stating that he would make it his duty to see that the living quarters for crews of vessels would be thoroughly cleaned. In regard to the Wharf Health Committee, Mr. Young said it was carrying out its duties with principal attention to the point of view of waterside workers. During the epidemic his utiion committee, in conjunction with the watersidera' committee, visited many ships and found the condition of affairs generally to be disgraceful. In view of the condition of the quarters, one could not be amazed at the effect of the epidemic on'1 the men of the mercantile marine. He did not know the numbers of men of the mercantile marine who had passed over the Great Divide as a result of the epidemic, but felt sure that if the, facts wore known the number of deaths in New Zealand alono had been between 400 and 500. Continuing, Mr. Young gave some further detailed information of the condition of affairs, rather revolting as he described them, existing 6n some ships; the sanitary accommodation in some cases being adjacent to, and in others actually in, the living quarters of the crews. Whatthe desired to show was the position existing to-day, but he would not say that it was getting any worse, although some of the modern vessels did not show very much improvement. Mr. Young said that the Monpwai seemed to have been the first ship to bring the influenza in a severe form to Wellington, She came from Auckland, and arrived here with the master and 11 of the crew down with the disease. The master and four of the crew died here. Continuing Mr. Young instanced the negotiations with the Union Company for alterations, etc. ; the company on 21sfc November agreeing to carry out. the union's recommendation. Wherever the structm"al conditions of the ships would permit alterations being carried out, the Union Company had acceded to the union's request. Forty-seven vessels (including a few not belonging to the Union Company), had had such* alterations made, the plans for the alter, ations having been sent to the union. RECOMMENDATIONS QXJES- ■ ... ' TIONS. , Mr. Young went on to recount tho negotiations with the ; Hon. T. M. Wilford for the appointment of permanent health inspectors for wharves and ships. As the result of the experience gained during the epidemic, Mr. Young, on behalf of his union presented to the Com■mission a list of recommendations for the improvement of the conditions he had described, which he contended would be in the best interests of the general health of the community. & , Asked by the chairman if the improve* ments suggested were all possible in view of the structural natures of some ships ;of to-day, Mr, Young-said that ineoma

Bhips it would b« a matter of extreme ; difficulty to get a messroom. The Chairman: Then it really might '! mean . that these ships should be ;: ."scrapped"? Mr. Young: Perhaps so. It would be better to scrap ships and save lives. ' Sir John Denniston: Oh, those aro no doubt sentimental phrases, Mr. Young, which no doubt may be useful to you in ; your everyday work. ■ Mr. Young replied that nobody would dream of saying that a ship should be " scrapped " because a messroom could ; not be provided. > Sir John Denniston pointed out that such would be the practical effect of the recommendation. After some further discussion, Mr. •\ Young agreed to insert the words ';!; "wherever possible" in some of his re- * '■• commendations. "* : In reply to Mr. M'Laren, Mr. Young '•said that "it would be more desirable to ■. have one competent authority to control ■. • health matters than a multiplicity. He would prefer legislative authority for tho 'appointment of a Port Health Committee '■to consist of representatives of the vari- ■ ous interests at the wharves. The general health of tho port materially concerned the community, but he did not necessarily think that a Port Health .Committee should be representative of ;;. all the community. Such a committee '■•might not deal with the question of V! health sympathetically from the point of ,'; view of the port. ' Public-Health Department. Mr. "■■', Young continued, was badly in need of ,: ;some practical experience in matters • ; affecting the position on shipboard. Snch „;a committpe as he had recommended , .'would necessa-rily, however, be under the ;; control of the Health Department. J..', Sir John Denniston : "Merely ■an ad- ; visory body." ',; (Proceeding.)