THE PREVAILING MALADY.

Northern Advocate, 26 August 1913, Page 5

THE PREVAILING MALADY.

-TRUE STATE OF MATTERS SUPPRESSED. v^ Mr. Vernon Reed, M.P. for Bay of Islands, who has just completed an investigation into the epidemic in the North, is greatly perturbed at what he has seen. Mr. Reed left

for Auckland by the Manaia this en route for Wellington. •iRe informed an " Advocate " representative that he had made the trip up in response to a number of letters from his constituents, who alleged that the virulence of the complaint was being suppressed, and that there ■was insufficient organisation for dealing with the disease. "I have been over the ground as far

as possible in the time at my disposal," .. s&id Mr Reed, "and I am convinced that "nothing like the truth of the position has been made public. The position is most alarming. The number of cases that have occurred in the North amount to anything over 2000. The disease has swept through whole localities, taking in practically every inhabitant. "The medical staff on the ground are

■working like Trojans, but the staff is •altogether too small. They cannot possibly do any more than look after the cases they have in hand. The hospital at Kaikohe is full, something like 40 or GO patients being treated. "There is no effective organisation to prevent the spread of the disease. It will become much more virulent if a •remedy is not found! to stop its spreading and developing into a most malig- " nant form and attack "Europeans and Maoris alike. "What do I suggest? Why, an organised campaign. It will mean sending up a full and complete staff. Sys- „ tern will have to be evolved; vaccina- * tion of all Maoris must be compulsory, thorough fumigation must be carried out, and whares burnt down where the occupants have had the disease. In regard to the latter compensation should be paid"