THE MEASLES OUTBREAK.
AUCKLAND CUT SCHOOLS CLOSED. A special mooting of the City Schools Committee was held last night at the Wollealeystreet school to consido. what steps should he taken with regard to closing the schools under its jurisdiction, to prevent the spread of measles, which are prevalent in several schools. In 0110 school 200 children and four teachers arc victims to the epidemic, and in all some 380 scholars have caught it. At its j last meeting the committee decided to close the schools for 14 days, subject lo Use approval of the Education Board. Mr. Hobbs, the chairman of the Sonrd, was seen on Thursday by Mr. Squirrel!, the chairman of the committee. but he declined to take upon himself the responsibility of closing the schools, and said he would refer the matter to the Board at its next meeting. Mr. Sqnirrell then called a special meeting for last night. Thore were present: The chairman. Drs. King and Walker, and. Messrs. Koldio, Hollywav, Frioker. and Mel,cod. The Chairman explained the position of affaire, and said that he considered, in the interests of public health, that the committee should lake upon itself the responsibility of closing t'-e schools. He read a letter from Mr. V. 1'!. Kico, secretary of the Hoard, stating that the chairman had suggested that, instructions should ho given to the headmasters to do all in their power, in the interests of the public, health, to limit the spread of the mo'sles by excluding any of t> e scholars who came from infected homes. The Chairman then moved. That the receipt of the Board's letter he acknowledged, and the Board informed that the committee, acting on the advice of two of its members— mon— have, with a view of preventing the further spread of measles through the schools under (heir charge, lieing a medium of infection, closed the citv schools for a period of It days, from the Hth insl.. and that for a precedent the Board bo referred to the minutes of a meeting held on May 16. 1893." Mr. Squirrel! explained that similar action was thon taken on account of an outbreak of measles.
Dr. Walker seconded. Mr. (Joldio thought the onus should bo thrown cm the Board. Tho committee could close the schools till next Wednesday, and limn Die Board could, if it liknd. assort itself, and say it would close them for 11 days. Tho commit tee should let tho Hoard take the responsibility, and should not ignoro tho Board. Dr. Walter said, in keeping the schools open they were acting as a distributing agent for the conveyance of the measles. M". Ooldie": Can wo, in a fortnight, kill the whole thing? Dr. Walker replied that the poriod of incubation was 14 days, and the children who were going to have the measles would develop them in that time.
Pr. King pointed out that by allowing the children to p-o to tho schools the committee was almost liable for a breach of the Public Health Act. The schools ought to bo closed and fumigated, to give tho epidemic a oliance to abate. In some /urther discussion, during which the opinion wi s expressed that the resolution went a little too far, and that the Board should lake the responsibility of closing the schools, Mr. Squirrel! withdrew the resolution, and Dr. Walker moved, and Dr. King seconded, and it was agreed, " That t'"e following advertisement be inserted in the papers:— has been decided that owing to the epidemic of measles, the city schools be oloscd till further notice to prevent the further spread of infection."
THE MEASLES OUTBREAK.
New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10908, 12 November 1898, Page 5
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