SCHOOLS HARD HIT.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2715, 7 August 1923, Page 5

SCHOOLS HARD HIT.

The local schools are somewhat hard hit. Indeed, West End will ho closed for a week, as 100 children and four teachers are absent. It is understood that similar action will he taken In the other schools if matters get any worse. Two hundred and thirty were reported as absent from the Central School last night. A local railway ofllolal stated that there had been a sharp rise in the sick list over the week-end, possibly at-> tributablc to Saturday’s dampness. Of the staff, there are from 12 to 15 employees ’absent with the ’flu. The official also stated that the passenger traffic has been affected considerably, and very few people are travelling. The outbreak is now making itself somewhat seriously felt in business offices. Several local firms have had a fair proportion of their staffs upon the sick list, and in one Government Department the whole of the staff, with one exception, was laid low.

11 TIME FOR CLOSING OVERDUE."

A former Mayor of Palmerston North emphasised his view on the ’Hu situation in the following definite terms; “ If I were Mayor of Palmerston North to-day, I would have had the schools closed a week ago. The danger of herding children together in confined rooms at this time is particularly dangerous and a prolific, means of spreading the complaint through' out the community.’’ IN OTHER CENTRES. •

Two cases of pneumonia following Influenza, both of which proved fatal, VOre reported in Napier on Thuradav. Business houses and schools are considerably affected by influenza of a mild type. The Boys’ High School has closed for a few days, and a number of smaller country schools are also closed. During the last few days the influenza has spread rapidly in Wanganui. The visitation is fortunately of n mild type, and a few days in bed suffices to shako it off.. During the week only one pneumonic ease has been reported in Gonville. At one school 140 pupils during the week failed to answer tho roll.

Five further cases of influenza have been reported to the district health office at Auckland, three of them having occurred in the city and two in the suburbs. Another death, a city cose, has also been notified. This makes o. total of 92 cases notified In tho district since the outbreak in July, and 14 In the last two days. There have been altogether 20 deaths. Mr. James Cairns, health officer, referring to the Influenza In Masterton, said that there was only one case under observation that was showing any pneumonic symptoms, and there was no occasion for any steps to bo taicen yet to actively combat the epidemic. The doctors wero unanimous that trouble could be avoided If people would attend to themselves when they developed tho first signs of a cold. The surest way to prevent the spread or influenza was to avoid mixing in crowds. The cases of mild Influenza arc increasing, and the staffs of many business houses have been greatly depicted. The influenza wave, which h:u? swept over the Dominion, has reached a high mark at Waipukurau, and it Is doubtful if so many cases have ever existed at the same time in Central Hawke’s Bay centre. In many coses the entire family has been attacked, and many business places have been entirely closed down. Sunday schools and picture shows have been closed, but the day schools have kept going in spite of practically no attendance in some classes. Adults appear to have suffered much more than children.

Influenza has increased slightly in Waipawa during the last day or two, a number of cases having been reported, including several well known professional men. Fortunately, all the cases are of a mild variety, and a few days’ rest will probably effect a cure. So far Waipawa has been very free of the epidemic, and there has been no interference with any business. The schools have not suffered in any way.

SCHOOLS AND PICTURE THEATRES. REQUESTED TO CLOSE IN MASTBRTON. [Per Press Association.] Owing to the prevalence of the Influenza epidemic in a mild form, and the faefc of a second death from pneumonic influenza, the municipal authorities have asked the committees to close the schools, and have requested the picture theatres also to close. The second victim was Miss Alice Broadway, of Otaki, aged 23 years.