THE PUBLIC HEALTH

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 6 June 1919, Page 5

THE PUBLIC HEALTH

.CAKE OF ORPHAN CHILDREN

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

DUNEDIN, June 5. A deputation from the organisations interested in social questions waited on the Minister for Education regarding the position of children left orphans by the influ<-nza epidemic. Rev. Mr King explained that no money could be obtained for tihe support of these children unless they had been nominally committed to an industrial school. He said very strong resentment was felt that these children ihad to be committed simply because their parents had died.

The Minister said the committal to' industrial schools was only nominal, as children did not actually go to the schools. He hoped the procedure would' be altered next session. He had to use' the existing machinery, although he did not like it. The Public Trustee had power and had asked the Education Department to undertake the work. He promised to see what he could do to have the law improved. WELLINGTON, June 5. Seven eases of letbfargic encephalitis have been reported in the Wellington Health District since the disease was made notifiable, four in Wellington, and one each in Masterton, Hawera, and Petone. No deaths fcave been recorded.

The influenza cases reported in the Wellington Health District for the week ended June 4 were: Waiapu 2, mild; Wairoa, 4. mild; Hawera. 1, mild; Haw'ke's Bay, 2, pneumonic; Wanganui, 2 mild and 3 pneumonic; Palmerston North, 1, mild; Hutt, 1, pneumonic; Wairarapa, 2, mild. [It may be mentioned that the Hawera caso was promptly isolated, and is progressing well towards recovery, and that there is no reason to anticipate that there will be other cases.]