THE PUBLIC SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17011, 19 November 1918, Page 6

THE PUBLIC SERVICES.

CONDITIONS- IMPROVING.

MORE MEN RETTJRNIM TO DUTY.

The Public Services at Auckland furnishes a barometor # by which a fairly reliable conclusion as to the progress or otherwise of the epidemic may be arrived at, and inquiries made yesterday at the four principal Public Services-clearly indicated that the scourge is less severe than it was a week ago. . The chief postmaster stated that on his staff there were only 100 absentees an against 116 on Saturday and 150 at the beginning of last week. Few fresh cases had occurred. So far as the Department is concerned, mails have been despatched as usual, any delays being attributable to a derangement of train or shipping services. In the city and, suburbs, postal deliveries have been made as usual, this having .been made possible by the assistance of a number of schoolboys. One boy ha,». been allocated to .each postman, thereby considerably expediting the first delivery and enabling the fit postmen to undertake the delivery of letters usually handled by men who had contracted influenza. The position in country offices has become more acute during' the last few dam and, so far, the local department ha« been able to afford only slight relief. W th the return of employees who have recovered it is hoped to render further assistance within\he next few days. An inhalation apparatus, for the use of post and telegraph officials and railway officers, has been installed at. the Chief Post Office by the Public Health Department, and, this is freely availed of daily by approximately 1000 employees, Aha interior of the building i» sprayed with disinfectants once a day, and in offices where the general public is given attention, tie spray is used twice daily. . In respect to the Telegraph and Tele-1 phone Departments, the superintendent, Mr. P. Gannaway, reported that Conditions were slightly better. There were 55 operators, 66 telephone attendants, .tad ii employees in other branches-* total of 113-off duty yesterday, as compared with 134 on Saturday. The number of weentees, was considerably higher in- the"early part of last.week. • „:■ . i The telephone exchange will remain closed for ordinary business between the hours of noon and 3 pa.., except for urgent calls for hospitals, doctors, and nurses,* until further notice. The curtailment of the hours is necessary, in order to give the reduced staff, which has had an exceedingly trying time during the past few weeks. .adequate wet. ...... • The Railway Department/ advises that it still has about 230 men absent from duty, but increased numbers are returning daily, In the country districts, however, more men are being attacked by the disease, and yesterday three country stationmasters reported sick. Owing to the depleted staff in the King Country and Ohakune districts, the time-Jable has been considerably curtailed, and the Auckland goods shed -will accept» only foodstuffs and other perishable and urgent goods for King Country stations and stations south of Ohakune. The suburban service today will be the same as yesterday. The Tramways Company reported that there was little, if any, improvement in respect to the number, of conductors and motormen who were off duty as a result of the epidemic. Yesterday there were 143 men usually employed in these branches of the service who were off duty. In other, departments a slight improvement was recorded. , ,t

CARE 07 THE MAORIS. '.ASSISTANCE FOR THE NORTH. Referring )U> the outbreak.' of the epidemic among the "Maoris, Dr.' J. P. Frenglev, acting-chief health officer, stated, last night that the natives, finding that, many of their number were woovering from the effects of the influents, were taking heart, thereby materially, assisting those who were endeavouring to alleviate' their distress.™, **..; " >*£*-"; ■.1 . Archdeacon Hawkins,- Dr. Reid, and two! nurses, left yesterday, for Kawakawa, to Work ; among the stricken. The former has offered . his, services to assist in any organisation which has as its object the care and treatment of the Maoris in the North:- It is hoped to 'send ot*» or two medical students to-.assist in the,treatment of Maori sufferers' on the West Coast, and one student to the Bay of Plenty hospital district within a day or twot • -;.„,' I

i REPORTS JIOK WAIUKtT. DEATHS OP / FIFTEEN • MAORIS. ' (from OUR own COHHESMKMKT.] i .. WATOXtJ. ] Monday. ; Tfao influenza epidemic 'shows signs of abatement. The early organisation and the work o! the Health : Committee, have bad much to do in checking the disease. After two or three days the parish hall was found to be too email, and the tmbUo hall was fitted tip, and patients, ■, transferred inhere. Dr. Howden had to relinquish work hut week, and "Dr. Aldred and Pr, Graham, the latter o2 whom aimed from Dnnedinon Thursday, have had a busy' time. Most of the 'local nurses are ill, but all "are progressing favourably. So far there have been two, deaths of furopeans here. >;" ; ". The epidemic i,t the Maori settlement is 1 still very siriou. There were 15 deaths there last veelx. The Health Committee is giving all,fatlp possible in providing medicines and other relief. . J

SICKNESS AMONG MAORIS.

-TREATMENT AT '.KOTORUA. . [bt littEoaArH.— cozmtoimxn.j ROTOIUA, Monday.

The kitchen established at the Rotorua Technical School has proved of great service in providing food for many families of which the adult' members have been laid up, and also invalid diet for the patients in fit. John's Hail' Hospital and the isolation hospital. From it have, likewiso, been sent out delicacies for convalescent patients in the Sanatorium and King George V. Hospital. \ An appeal made by the resident officer, Mr. W. Hill, on the bowling green, for volunteers to act as hospital orderlies at the--isolation hospital resulted in eight men offering their services. Two Hindoos were found in the town on Friday evening in a filthy condition, forsaken by their compatriots, who refused to go near them. They were removed to the isolation hospital, where one of them died oh' Saturday morning. There are a considerable number of cases among the Maoris, and the district school has been commandeered as a hospital for patients from Ohinemutu. Arrangements were made to convert the caretaker's house at Whakarewarewa into a temporary hospital, as it is very suitable for the purpose, being provided with all conveniences. The sick Maoris, however, refused to enter it, as two caretakers had died there, and a third had been removed in a dying, condition. These events' occurred a considerable time ago, but the natives' said they were sure that if they went there they would dio too, and the furniture and beds which had been placed in the house had to be transferred to the Whakarewarewa Hall, a building without any of the necessary conveniences.