BREACH OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9694, 14 December 1894, Page 5

BREACH OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT.

THE CAPTAIN OF THE GOTHIC FINED.

[Br TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. Judgment was given by Mr. Martin, S.M., this afternoon, in the case brought against Captain Kidley, of the s.u. Gothic, for a breach of the Public Health Act in failing to report the sickness of one of the stewards, said to be suffering from scarlatina. His Worship said with regard to the fane he felt bound to impose t» substantial one. The Legislature had chosen to regard this offence as a serious one, and had fixed the maximum penalty at £200. If the present case had been one of wilful endeavour to mislead the health authorities his only course would have been to have imposed the maximum penalty. The captain here was guided by his officers, but he had to suffer. The penalty would be a fine of £25 and coats, which might, perhaps, be reduced by the Executive if the matter mentioned by Mr. Skerrett, that the disease was only a minor complaint, was represented. If an application were made he would be pleased to make a report. As regards the system of inspection by the Health Officer, His Worshipsaid it appeared to him to be a perfect farce, and to be treated merely as a matter of form. There waa no check as to whether the whole of the names were really called over, and if the health authorities were going to be satisfied with the ipse dixit of the ship's officers they had better do away altogether with the farce of making an inspection. Mr. Skerrett said he proposed to apply for the mitigation of the fine.