Heartening Position

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 3, 5 January 1937, Page 6

Heartening Position

Few Admissions in Dunedin ANOTHER MALE SUSPECT Per Press Aasocl&tlon. DUNEDIN, Last Night. The heartening position of the last few days with regard to the number of admissions to the hospital of infantile paralysis cases was maintained to-day, there being only one person admitted. The patient was a man 21 years of age from Woodhaugh but the case has not been diagnosed as positive, being for observation only. Since 9 a.ra. on Saturday only three cases have been admitted, one positive and two for observation. All are persons over the age of 21 years. Children From Dunedin Allowed -To Travel UNEASINESS IN WELLINGTON. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Uneasiness as to the number of parents with children permitted to travel from Dunedin to Wellington is being felt by Wellington householders. The complaints refer not only to the freedom with which permits appear to have been issued to parents wishing to bring children to Wellington, but also to the alleged lack of supervision in trains and on the road. It is being stated that, contrary to earlier official reports from the south, persons with children are able to travel northward from Dunedin with or without permits and no serious or effectual steps are being taken to check or question them. A number of specific instances have been supplied and in o case could it be discovered that the moves from Dunedin were for reasons of urgency.

Positive Case at New Plymouth CONDITION REPORTED DANGEROUS. Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, Last Night. The infantile paralysis suspect at the New Plymouth Hospital yesterday has been diagnosed as a positive case. His condition to-day is dangerous. He is a married man, aged 27, and his household has been placed in strict quarantine. Suspected Case in Timaru TIMARU, Last Night. A suspected case of infantile paralysis, a girl aged eight, was admitted to the Timaru hospital to-day. The girl had been staying in the country and as far as is known had not been in contact with any outsiders. No Suspected Cases in Christchurch TEN DAYS’ ISOLATION TOR VISIT TO DUNEDIN. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. There are no suspected cases of infantile paralysis in Christchurch. The child admitted to the hospital on Saturday has been discharged. A man and his wife, residents of Mt. Somers, who went to Dunedin for the holidays and returned during the weekend, have boeu isolated and their isolation will continue for ten days. Passengers Not Allowed To Land at Samoa PRECAUTIONS CRITICISED. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. Three passengers who travelled home to Western Samoa by the Matua arrived back on that vessel to-day, having been prevented from landing owing to the precautions because of the infantile paralysis epidemic in New Zealand. Two others landed at Suva on the return trip. Before reaching Apia the vessel called at Rarotonga and Nukualofa and after a medical inspection the passengers were permitted ashore. At Apia the medical officer did not board the vessel and the quarantine flag was flown. The passengers were not allowed ashore, but lighters and launches, carrying 150 native labourers, overseers and policemen, came aboard, discharging and loading cargo, some of them allegedly conversing and shaking hands with the passengers for Samoa. The workers returned to their homes at night and were back at the ship the next day. The passengers on ,the Matua, many of whom were making the round trip, criticised the quarantine restrictions. Mr. H. Edwards, an Auckland business man, said that within an hour of their arrival at Apia the quarantine developed ’into a farce. Masks were worn by the passengers for a short time, but were soon discarded. The passengers wanted to know why, after the vessel had been given a clean bill of health at Rarotonga and Nukualofa, quarantine was necessary at Apia; also, in view of the fact that there was a quarafltine station ashore, why were the passengers for Samoa not allowed to proceed there; further, why were the masks limited to the ship’s complement and not given to the workers who came aboard.

"It was a very foolish business,” said Mr. A. I. McFarlane, another businessman. "If the authorities were going to quarantine the ship, why did they not make a job of it? We passengers did our best for the passengers who tried to land at Apia and, incidentally, for ourselves, but we could get no satisfaction out of anybody. The

whole thing seemed to be bungled, and it looks to me as though someone moved too hurriedly and would not climb down to save his face. The Apia passengers don’t know what the position is, but intend finding out. Now that they are back they will have to meet considerable expense in returning through Sydney. Two passengers who landed at Suva will be delayed at least a month. It seems peculiar that, while the cargo was being worked, several residents were allowed aboard the vessel, yet the resident passengers were not allowed to land. ’ ’