A SERIOUS MATTER

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 31, 6 February 1925, Page 8

A SERIOUS MATTER

FAILURE TO REMAIN IN ' ISOLATION

FINE OF £2 IMPOSED.

The obligations placed on persons who are ordered, by the Health, Department to remain in isolation were emphasised by, Mr. E. Page, S.M., to-day, when Dora King was charged at the Magistrate's Court with failing to comply with an order of a medical officer of health to remain m isolation at premises in Tennyson street, Wellington, for a period .of 14 days. . ' ' . .

Sub-Inspector Hollis, who prosecuted, explained that the information was laid under, the Health Act, 1920. -'At the place where.defendant was boarding a child.was affected with infantile paralysis, and defendant was ordered by the Health Department to remain on the premise^ for fourteen days. She had a titf with her husband, and cleared out and went to Palmerston North. She remained there for two or three days and when she'returned, went to other premises. The Health Department obtained instructions from the. Minister to prosecute.. They:did ,no"t- request a heavy penalty, but they regarded the offence as serious. - ' . • ■ i

In reply to the Magistrate, defendant said that the Health Deportment told the occupants of the house that they were to be quarantined, but. wlien the heaith inspector came to fumigate he said they could go out, as long as'thev kept m the fresh air, -"nut,'"said de"tendunt, in a complaining tone, "Why should we be quarantined if the men are allowed to go to work?" t "Who was the Health officer?" asked the Magistrate. • <•"

"I could not tell you," replied defendant, "everybody in the house went out, she added. ': _".'She went away 'to Palmerston Aorth, interposed, the SubJnspector. ' "Were the instructions written?" inquired his Worship. "No !" replied, defendant. The Magistrate (to Sub-Inspector Hollis): "The officer who fumigated the place told her she may leave." Sub-Inspector Hollis: "1 have' no instructions about that. l»The doctor is away at present. I understand that the disinfecting is done by the City Council not by tha Health Department. Whether the inspector had power I don't know. Defendant had instruction.l! from the Health Department to remain, and she should have abided by then)." "The Act renders you liable to a fine of £50/; warned his Worship. "This is a very serious matter indeed. However, the police don't-press for a heavy penalty. No doubt the publicity will be sufficient. 1 shall, have to impose a penalty, buf, I will make it a small one, as ,you may have been under a misapprehension.-, I might suggest," r.dded his Worship, "that instructions of this sort might be put in writing. It would place the matter beyond doubt.'*' >

The Suh-TnspectoT said he would make representations to the Health Department on the matter. ,

Defendant was fined £2 and costs.