THE EPIDEMIC IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15390, 27 August 1913, Page 8

THE EPIDEMIC IN THE NORTH.

Citizens of Auckland are now assured that the steps being taken to prevent the spread of the epidemic within the city and suburbs are more effective than at any time since the first case was reported early in May. But what of the North, where the disease was first located? Mr. Vernon Reed, M.P., who has just returned from the Bay of Islands, states that the disease is still spreading, that there have been many unrecorded deaths, that the hospital accommodation is utterly inadequate, that the few doctors and nurses on the spot have all their time occupied attending to actual sufferers and are unable to do anything to stop the spread -of the disease, and that no organised effort is being made to suppress the epidemic., which could be eradicated in a few weeks if taken in hand on proper lines. Such a statement made by a responsible member of Parliament after investigation cannot be treated lightly. According to Mr. Reed the white population of the North is in danger of undergoing the same experience as the unfortunate Maoris * have undergone unless more vigilance is exercised and more vigorous measures adopted. The Chief Health Officer. ■on his return from the North a week ago stated that the epidemic there was well in hand and on Monday evening last he described the whole aspect of affairs as cheerful. When the public? contrast this with the serious statement of Mr. Reed what are they to believe? The incapacity of the Health Department" left to its own resources has already been demonstrated. Is its cheerful optimism to be considered a sufficient answer to the facts vouched for by Mr. Reed The position is sufficiently serious to warrant the active intervention of the Government. The intervention of the Mayor led to improved precautions in the city and suburbs; the intervention of some mysterious person in authority in Wellington caused the Health Department to withdraw on the arrival of the Makura its unreasonable order for the compulsory vaccination of passengers from a clean port it is now high time for the Minister to intervene and ascertain officially the true position in the North. The. people are entitled to an authoritative medical pronouncement on the subject; they are entitled to know whether the position is as serious as Mr. Reed represents it, or as hopeful as the Chief Health Officer pictures it. The Herald has frequently urged the necessity for the appointment of, a capable Health Commissioner armed with full authority and empowered to spend money to root out the epidemic. Such an appointment is urgently necessary for the North to-day. If the Chief Health . Officer is right confirmation by a Commissioner in whom the public have confidence would set the public mind at rest; if Mr. Reed's statements are found to be correct the immediate appointment of a Commissioner would enable him to be on the spot promptly and to take the necessary action at once. Unless the Minister for Public Health is prepared to discredit Mr. Reed's statements he can hardly avoid taking now the action, which, taken months ago, would have prevented much unnecessary suffering and given the Dominion to-day a clean bill of health.