Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1919. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST INFLUENZA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1919, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1919. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST INFLUENZA.

THERE are some . people who need a dire calamity! in-their very midst to bring them to their senses. Generally speaking the. man who looks ahead-and takes all sane precautions possible", is he who meets with the least trouble. “The price of peace is eternal vigilance.” . The - splendid fight put up by New South Wales against the influenza scourge is an example for other countries to follow. Victoria has not realised the menace and that State has been severely criticised by New South Wales for its. laxity. It was no surprise! to it that influenza had broken put there and seeing that the New South Wales capes have been traced to Victoria, its feelings can be better imagined than described. The SydneyDaily Telegraph in commenting on the matter gives, some interesting details which show 'the Importance of leaving nothing to chance in this important matter. ■ Since- the influenza epidemic first appeared in Australia the only official action regarding it so far worthy o: common reapo;*, it says, has been that of the New South Wales State Government. The action of the Federal authorities has been singularly inept, while the Victorian State authorities have all through d s-played a reckless negligence for which we have now to thank the presence of the disease in our midst. Even the first obvious percaution of making the disease notifiable, taken months ago ‘by other States, was not taken; in until a day or two ago When the epidemic appeared-in Melbourne, in face of all probability they) denied that it was the influenza with which the rest of the world had teen scourged. Even... affer the .bacteHologioaT - tests had ‘revealed the presence of its supposedly causative germs Melbourne officialism insisted upon giving the benefit of the doubt to the most deadly enemy that ever attempted to invade our shores. The consequence was that for days .and 'days the disease; went on multiplying its foci while the doctors stood warngling about whether it should be . called .’ pneumonic influenza' or .influenzal pneumonia. ■Meanwhile the Federal authorities, .because the State' authorities would not acknowledge Victoria to be infected, -looked on and did nothing.* W® have -seen the War; Precautions Act used fori all s'orts of -federal interferences with the rights of States and the rights of .individuals when po call for . such paction w"as apparent, 8 but a single harrier of red tape was sufficient to prevent the most' ferocious enemy that has -just ravaged, the- world, 1 leaving countless dead in its 1 track.' ’

Continuing, it says that as the result of this deplorable spirit of do-nothing? ism the without let or,hindrance, spread •to New South Wales, jpiero it was met by on alert Health Department, which, instead ■ of. f quibbling tabout, the name- 1 for the grim In-

truder,-proceeded 1 to use every power at its disposal to prevent it from getting - a' footing. ’ The - State. was; declared ■ infected,, on which the Federal J authorities it the, benefit-’of quarantine against; the further influx of Vicitorians .which, ’ it Victoria had “been' equally hopest, jt wotlld' have

had from the 'beginning. But what followed? A. counter-move to- deprive New South Wales of that protection. For it was only then that Victoria declared itseTT infected, after which the free intercourse between the States had to be resumed. The action of Victorian officialdom all through has been analogous to nothing so much as that of~ah irresponsible child playing with a venomous snake. And if wo had to find a parallel for the part play by the Federal Government it would be that of a •■drunken father looking helplessly on. Fortunately, however, the Government of this State, which has been watching the movements of the disease since the alarm first came from overseas, had neglected no .precaution, and was ready To act the moment danger appeared. In fact,, it had already done much in anticipation. This is the'one redeeming feature of the position. And it (remains now for the people to Support the Government loyally and confidently/ in all the measures necessary to ensure their own safety. Red tape is no weapon with which to, resist an invasion such as this. Whatever powers the Government can. use for stopping the influx of further infection from Victoria should, therefore, ’ be exercised to the full, and exercised at once. The decision of the Cabinet to shut off all passenger traffic from Victoria into New South Wales will be supported by the whole force of public opinion in this State. Some trade may be lost to Victoria by l an inter-State quarantine, as well as to New South Wales. Travellers and trippers may also have to suffer inconvenience. But putting all that at its worst, it is negligible in comparison to the loss we would incur were the epidemic to' get the footing here that it .got in New. Zealand, where a more or less excusable ignorance, which can-* not be pleaded here, failed to isolate 1 the source of infection. While our Government is straining; eyery power ■ that it possesses to-keep the disease localised the duty of the individual is to follow all the ipstruc{tiems given for (his own. protection,, which also means the .protection of the community. The foregoing of amusements that c|uae crowds to congregate in or out of buildings is a small price to ■pap for the.amount of safety it purchases. Inoculation costs nothing to those who avail themselves of the Government depots, and is regarded as beneficial to many persons, irrespective of whatever degree of immunity it may confer. Little or no inconvenience is. involved TE wnat is probably the most effective precaution of all, the wearing of a mask in public places. And the foolish scoffer will, from Monday next be obliged to wear one himself ; so, that even his graceless ridicule need no' longer f be feared any mpre than his pitiful foolhardiness. But while the Government can enforce all these‘regua Lions ther©"T6 much that must be left t> the common sense, of the people, themselvSs, It remains- with , each one, to live temperately ■ and hygenically; use such preventives as may be recommended, and when the first warning of attack appears’, to face .it calmly and determinedly by laying up and wherever possible getting . medical attention. In coloured communities epidemics always . wreak much more havoc than amongst whites. And it is because of the lower standard' of enlightenment which causes neglect of these intelligent "precautions. The more diligently they are practised, therefore, whether this epidemic spreads -or idles out, ' whether It prpv* mild or.virulent, the less suffering it-will bring in its train. Perhaps after the lesson already leamt the and Federal authorities will realise this, and all work together for the' common- good. Anything else is now inconceivable. 1