ORIGIN OF EPIDEMIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17007, 14 November 1918, Page 4

ORIGIN OF EPIDEMIC.

NOT SPREAD BY NIAGARA.

SIR J. 0. WARD'S OPINION. [in teleusapu.— I'IIESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. In reply to several questions in the House of Representatives this afternoon regarding the spread of influenza in the Dominion, Sir Joseph Ward characterised it as a " wicked " statement that tho disease was brought to New Zealand by the steamer Niagara. The epidemic was world-wide, and there were 120 cases in this country ten days before the Niagara arrived at Auckland. Therefore, it was absurd to say it was brought here by the j steamer on which tho Prime Minister and ; himself had travelled. Mr. Massey and ! himself told the authorities they were perfectly willing to go into quarantine with the rest of the passengers if it were necessary. No influence was used to escape that in- ' convenience. Under the circumstances | those who spread rumours, for political | purposes, that tho Prirno Minister and I himself were in any way responsible, were worse than tho Kaiser. Mr Massey and tho Hon. G. W. Russell, .Minister for Public Health, also made statements on the subject. The latter assured t'he House that no request of any kind l »as received from the Primo ! Minister or Minister for Finance for i preferential treatment over the other passengers by the Niagara. If the epidemic conti.i.ied to spread, there was only one way to deal with it, namely, to requisition the entire medical science of the DoI minion as, in many places, the Publio i Health Department did not know whore to turn for modical aid. The Hon. W. H. Herriei, Minister for Railways, said the Railway Department was only too anxious to co-operate with the Public Health Department in dealing with passengeris travelling on trains, and it would, if necessary, establish inhalation chambers on thu Main Trunk trains for the use of passengers. A' r. Russell s.t or.ce accepted the offer. In reply to "Mr. J, A. Young (Waikato), the Minister said he had issued instructions to every hospital board In the Dominion to supply medicine at cost price to sufferers wlio applied for it. Mr. H. E. Holland (Grev) and Dr. T. J. Thacker (Chriatchurch East), suggested that the House should adjourn for a fortnight, to enable the members to get back to their districts and organise campaigns against the epidemic. The Prime Minister said he proposed to ask the House to adjourn fill Friday, by which time he hoped the situation would be eased.