A Stringent Measure.

Hastings Standard, Issue 75, 23 July 1896, Page 3

A Stringent Measure.

AGAINST CONSUMPTIVES. [By Telegkaph.] ( From our Special C<>nrsi>«)ul< nt.) Wellington, This Day. The Public Health Acts Amendment Bill, introduced by the Hon Mr Carroll, contains many provisions taken from Mr Reeves' Undesirable Immigrants Bill. It places on the master and owner, or charterer of any ship, the duty of preventing any one embarking in the ship as a passenger for New Zealand who is suffering in any form from tuberculosis. On the arrival in the colony the master of the ship is to deliver to the health officer a true list of all passengers and a declaiation as to whether any of them are suffering from that disease, the penalty for a false declaration beiqg £SO. No passenger suffering from tuberculosis la to be allowed to land, and should any such person do so, both he and the master of the vessel will be liable to a penalty of £lO. If within three months of landing is Hew Zea-

land, any passenger is found to bo suffering from tuberculosis Le shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to 1 "t been suffering from that di-<-r •» when he landed in New Zealand. Tb 1 latter of the ship is liable to a j 1 i; <! \ of £~)0 if he allows a tuberc ilo patient to occupy the same c hi l as another passenger. The Act 1-1 to apply to Her Majesty's land and sea forces. Tuberculosis and syphilis are declared to be infectious diseases, and thus comes under the provisions of the Public Health Act of 1876, which contains provisions for dealing with such diseases. Finally, the Bill proposes to increase from £IOO to £SOO the bond which shipowners or masters have to enter into for every lunatic, idiot, deaf, blind, or infirm person who is likely to become a charge upon any charitable institution.