The Hawera Star. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1927. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST INFLUENZA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 14 February 1927, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1927. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST INFLUENZA.

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia. Normanby. Okaiawa Eltliam, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Alton II urley ville, Paten, Waverley, Mokoia, Vhakamara, Ohangai. Mere-mere. Fraser Road and Ararata.

The Minister of Health has found it necessary to make a statement explaining the reasons for the delay in grant ing pratique to the overseas steamer lonic. It was found on the arrival of the steamer at Auckland last week that several cases of influenza had occurred among the passengers and the crew during the early par; of the voyage, and, in consequence the Port Health Officer held up the vessel until he had communicated with the Health Department at Wellington. As there had been no sign of fresh eases on board for a period longer than the period of incubation in connection with influenza, pratique was granted and the passengers allowed to disembark after some delay. In replying to some criticism, which has been levelled at the Department, the Minister endorses the attitude of the Director General of Health, who has laid it down that if on arrival any ship i 3 found to be infected or gives a history of infection, no matter at what stage of the voyage, pratique shall be withheld. The result of investigation into the history of the outbreak shall be communicated to headquarters, with recommendations for action and the decision will rest with the Directoreneral of Health. This proceedure may appeal to some, specially to passengers who experience the vexation of delay, as being unnecessarily unweildy ancl it is highly probable that the Minister has already heard complaints about the length of red tape required to bind the new regulations. In his recent statement, the Minister justifies the action of the Director-General on the grounds that, as the head of the Department he occupies a position similar to the position of a general manager of a business .concern, whose dut;> it is to be in touch ' with all fresh developments of the business. \Y bile departmental methods may not often call forth admiration for their busi-ness-like qualities, we have to bear ia mind that in taking precautions against the spread of the European influenza epidemic to New Zealand, the Health Department- is preparing a defensive against something not only inimical to business interests, but something-which threatens safety of the whole of the people of the Dominion, and it therefore behoves everybody to look with a kindly eye upon the efforts of the Department and do everything possible to assist it, rather than to seek to obstruct it. Delay in landing passengers and cargo may prove both vexatious and costly, but if we remember 191 S, with its suffering and grief, and when the loss was counted in human lives, wo should realise that he vexation of passengers and the comparatively small loss inflicted upon commerce by delaying pratique at this stage is a small price to pay for i turn uni tv from another outbreak.