MEDICAL CLEARANCE OF VESSELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13287, 20 September 1906, Page 5

MEDICAL CLEARANCE OF VESSELS.

COMPLAINTS OF, DELAY,

[by TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL COIIBESPOXDENT.]

Wellington, Wednesdays The Minister for Public Health (Mr.. Fowl (Is) was asked by Mr. Poole, in the House of Representatives to-day, -whether he would take steps to have the medical clearance of ships in the harbours of the colony carried out with more expedition than in the past, as many complaints had been made f about delay and neglect in ? some of our ports. Mr. Fowlds stated that so far as he was aware no undue delay had taken place in the clearing of ships from oversea by reason of the neglect of the Health Department. If the hon. member would state a specific instance, he would have ? pleasure in inquiring into it. Mr. Poole said that people coming to this colony naturally expected vessels to be cleared and granted pratique with as s much expedition as was shown in tie ports of other countries. He recognised that in this colony, containing as it did, so many ports, it was difficult to lave ft health officers set apart specially for the work. There had been several complaints some time ago, and whilst he did not intend to cite any particular instance, he thought that steps should be taken to env sure greater expedition. The health officer in Auckland was a very good and popular officer, but he was sometimes _ attending to his private practice when vessels were f" J signalled off Tiritiri. As, however, it took a vessel about three hours to reacn port after being signalled, there should [||f be ample time to make arrangements to clear the vessel without delay. He did - 11 at wish to refer to this officer'alone, as delays occurred in other ports, as well as , Auckland. "We are," he continued, "get- ' Milling a bad name for our lethargy in this direction, and it is time steps [were taken . to square matters up if the Department / . is. responsible. Better ' facilities should be given to health officers to clear vessels »s quickly as possible." .