INFLUENZA

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1923, Page 2

INFLUENZA

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (Special to “Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 24. A further statement with reference to influenza was made to the House to-day by the. Minister of Health. In response to a question asked by Mr. Holland, Sir M. Pomare replied that a mild form of influenza was prevalent at Westport and other district on the Coast. Last week, two cases of pneumonic influenza had been reported from Westland, one from Buller, and one from Grey. No deaths had occurred. So far as the severe form of influenza was concerned, he did not think theie was any need for uneasiness on the West Coast. The Department had sent down a medical officer to watch the position. For the week ended 23rd July 18 pneumonic cases had been reported from the Auckland Health District, one from Hawke’s Bay, ten from the Wanganui Health District, 5 from the Wellington Health District, and 62 from Canterbury. The Canterbury district was most affected. The total number of cases for the whole Dominion was 149 and there ! had been 35 deaths. Though the posii tion was serious from one standpoint nevertheless it was not as bad as it J had been previously.

DUNEDIN BULLETIN. DUNEDIN, July 25. During the past twenty-four hours there have been ten pneumonic notifications. Patients in the isolation hospital now number thirty. Another death is reported. Twenty-nine members of the hospital nursing stall are off duty. All schools in the city have re-opened.

COAST INDUSTRIES HAMPERED

The output from the coal mines and sawmills on the TV est Coast has been seriously affected by the prevailing epidemic of mild influenza, and in consequence the work of loading shipping in port has been hampered. The secretary of the Greymouth Watersiders Union (Mr 11. Kirk) stated to-day that about 60 members of the union had been down with influenza, but none of the cases was serious, and the men were gradually resuming work. Tho chief trouble on. the wharf at present was the shortage of coal and timber. There were plenty of men to work tho boats, but not enough material to keep them going. . Apart from the influenza outbreak, said Th- Kirk, the timber did not come forward as freely nowadays as it did in years gone by. Some years ago it was possible to keep four gangs employed loading timber on a vessel like thci Kaiapoi, but under present conditions only what was known as a "skeleton'’ gang could be kept going. The timber was being exported, bu’» it was not received on the wharf as quickly as it used to bo. People who saw eight boats in port at once were inclined to talk about the good times enjoyed by the watersiders. Owing tb the . shortage of material, eight boats could be in port, and 100 men still be unemployed. Many truckers are absent from the Paparoa Mine, in addition to mine officials. The’ output of coal has been greatly reduced. Influenza is also reported to be very prevalent at Blackball.