HEALTH OFFICE METHODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15375, 9 August 1913, Page 8

HEALTH OFFICE METHODS.

DEFENDED BY ITS CHIEF.

" Maoris from other parts found wandering about Auckland can be sent back to their settlements by responsible officials of the Health Department, or by the police," said Dr. Valintine yesterday, when questioned by a Herald representative. "We issue special permits to enable the natives to travel . back from the towns to their kaingas. Guards on trains, or trams, can also put Maoris off unless they can produce the special permits. I wish to make it quite clear that the mere possession by a Maori of a certificate of successful vaccination does not, as appears to bo supposed, entitle him to remain in the city or travel about." Asked What precautions were being taken by the Department as regards the Maoris it was allowing to remain at work in Auckland, the Chief Health Officer said, "We have got all their names, and we grant no permits to any who are connected with a native pa. They are all bona-fide Europeartised Maoris towhom permits have been issued in Auckland. The areas in which they live are constantly patrolled by our officers." Mo3t of the Maoris Vaccinated. The Chief Health Officer stated further that the natives at . Orakei had all been vaccinated successfully, and all but those having special permits to come to work

in the city were being prevented ; from leaving that place. The same, thing applied, he said, sto the natives at;; Shoal •Bay.- The 'Waiheke natives were all being confined to the island. , ' ... '* The v majority of ; the :■ Maoris ; in the Auckland: district have now] been vaccinated." •proceeded Dr. Valintine. " There has been some difficulty in connection with the lymph supplies, but so far the Department has not ; broken down • once in this respect. Last" month alone we distributed 80,000 doses in the Auckland Province. In the ordinary course '■ the Department keeps in stock 30,000 doses, but when the run on vaccine began : we obtained additional calves, ;' inoculating up to 10 a ? week, and we have turned out since the beginning of the epidemic sufficient lymph for 210,000 vaccinations. Out of that we have sent some to 1 Sydney and some to Fiji; I consider this reflects the highest credit on the bacteriological branch of the Department. , Everyone, right down to the cadets, has worked uncomplainingly long hours, day arid night." " ' I The Nature of the Disease. ' ' i- Dr. Valintine said he was thankful to .know that a responsible professional body I such as the Auckland branch of the British Medical -Association had recognhied that the epidemic was smallpox. He declared that all the medical men who had actuallybeen in contact with: the cases, with one exception, were confident that it was smallpox. v'" The belief of the on* doubter was now, he «iid, very much shaken. Nobody . who had seen the .very grave cases at Parawera (Te Awamutu) and Maungatau- , Itari could doubt that they, were smallpox; 1.-V '" Campaign in the North. ', Prior to his departure for Whangarei | last night, the Chief Health Officer stated that ho was taking with him Dr. Duncan, two Departmental nurses, ; and ' Inspectors Grieve (Auckland) and Middleton (Welling-! ton).. Dr. Valintine will proceed at once' to Kaikohe, where ho will meet To Rangihiroa, M.P. (Dr. Buck) and Dr. Cawkwell. He will also consult with the local Hospital Board, which ho stated fully: realised its responsibilities under the Act.' After consultation he will decide where to place- the extra staff. There are already two nurses at Kaikohe. Afterwards the Chief 'Health Officer intends to visit all the places necessary, however loag; it takes him. \-' . y Kaikohe and Kairara were, Dr. Valintine said, the worst infected places. There was , a doctor on th* spot.■< however, r arid an-1 other on the way, besides a competent man J looking after the encampment where \ the ; patients are isolated. As for his plan of! campaign in the North, Dr. Valintine, said-f he intended to enforce sanitary conditions in every possible' way. "We will hare to: burn and boil a great deal,'' he concluded. |