THE H.B. TRIBUNE. THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1911. WAR TO The RAT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 91, 30 March 1911, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1911. WAR TO The RAT.

! "One of the three plague patients I from Onehunga tlied to-day.” So | ran the brief telegram from Auckland, published last night. It conveyed the startling news that the dread disease has gained a footing in New Zealand, and should waken every local authogjty to the need of keeping city, and hamlet in a state of cleanliness. Danger of only exists where dirt is 'allowed to accumulate, where people have uncleanly habits, and wiWre rats abound. A vigorous crusade should be started everywhere against these three things. Activities should be especially directed against the harmful and unnecessary rat. It was some half-a-dozen deaths in Suffolk, this year, that wakened the Britishers up to the danger, scientists there stated that as long as there is a rat among us there is sure to be incalculable damage to property and grave risk to health. The one » death in Auckland should awaken New Zealanders to their danger. The country is infested with rodents, and while they exist, no one has a guarantee against infection. A campaign of extermination is in, full swing in England. Why should we not start one here? It may appear a trivial suggestion, but it is one which should be given effect to immediately. E>ir James Crichton Brown, the famous physician, addressing a meeting at the Guildhall, London, said : C< l plead for the entire extermir/ition of the rat. Some say he may be a blessing in disguise, and that it may be dangerous to interfere with or disturb the balance of nature. But I know of no useful work of any kind that the rat ffoes. He is a dangerous criminal. Show him no mercy! Exterminate him as fast as possible ’ Besides disseminating typhoid fever, diptheria, and other maladies he is a wholesale depredator, causing loss to ail classes of the community.” A war of extermination should be declared in Napier and Hastings. Sydney has already taken the precaution of inspecting and fumigating vessels arriving from Auckland. Napier should follow suit, and above all the port authority should see to it that no rodent is permitted tp "shin” down the hawsers to be the means of disseminating the disease in Hawke’s Bay. There is no need for alarm, but there is need for proper precaution, and we hope the local authorities will.be alert in taking the necessary steps to safeguard the health of the people.