MOTUIHI CONDITIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17140, 21 April 1919, Page 6

MOTUIHI CONDITIONS.

REPLIES TO COMPLAINTS.

NURSING STAFF'S TESTIMONY.

MEDICAL OFFICERS DEFENDED

j The experiences of the Niagara's pasisengera on Motuihi were put in a new ( light by a first saloon passenger, an ; American citizen, to a Herald representative on Saturday. He asserted that the complaints made by several of the firstclass passengers, as published on Saturday, were unreasonable and unjustified. Regarding the tent accommodation, he said that practically all the tents of the first-class passengers had flooring, and every person was supplied with good stretchers and mattresses and plenty of blankets. He contradicted tho statement that the medical officers failed to do anything to mako tho passengers comfortable, and said that Dr. R. H. Makgill, Dr. Mercer, and Dr. Pettit each worked hard with the voluntary workers in the task of erecting the tents. Dr. Makgill was most solicitous regarding tho welfaro of the passengers, and did everything possiblejio make the sojourn on the island las pleasant as it could be in the circumstances. Had a willingness to assist the authorities been displayed by all the passengers, there would have been less itason for complaint/ and the " through" passengers would have been sent ashore from the Niagara at least three days earlier than they actually were, and would, therefore, have been released from quarantine earlier. He admitted that the accommodation on Motuihi was not luxurious, but taking all the circumstances into account, there was little to complain about, and the majority of tho Niagara's passengers regarded their stay on Motuihi as a picnic, made thoroughly enjoyable by tho fine weather experienced. Members of the nursing staff of the quarantine hospital at Motuihi Island have made an- emphatic protest against tho allegations directed by certain of the through pssengers of the Niagara against tho resident medical officer, Dr. W. H. Pettit. They state that four of the staff were unfortunate enough to contract the disease and they could therefore speak personally of the untiring attention and kindness shown to all his patients by Dr. Pettit. It was true that lie passengers j were subjected to many inconveniences, I and the staff shared equally with them the I experience of sleeping in barracks and i floorless tents. Dr. Pettit did all in his j power to make conditions pleasant for I every temporary dweller on the island. He j personally directed the carrying out of | many improvements in the camps. Regardj ing the state of the hospital buildings at Mutuibi, tho 6tai! considered that, from the point of view of ventilation and lighting, the wards were quite satisfactory and no patients had suffered from being nursed in them* The convalescent camp was under the supervision of the nursing staff, and strict instructions were given that tho inmates should not proceed [ beyond the limits of the camp. Mr. R. Williams, chief officer of the steamer Port Stephen, writes as follows "I read with surprise and indignation in Saturday's Haufcn, that the medical officer's on Motuihi Island paid no attention to the convenience of the passengers of the R.M.S. Niagara during their stay on the island, but had appeared to "o out of their way to make things inconvenient for them. I have been a patient in the auarantine hospital for the past 11 days, and I wish to express ray gratitude to Major Pettit, for his thoughtful care and attention during my stay on the island, i Major Pettit has not spared himself in any way in seeing to the comfort and attention of his patients." SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS. A PASSENGER'S SCHEME. " A NiagaKjvated Passenger" writes: " Tliero are at present in N'ew Zealand, inclusive or the inhabitants of the Niagara lying at Queen's Wharf, not less than 750 people whose recent experiences have indelibly implanted the name of Motuihi in their minds. It is a beautiful spot, but as a quarantine station practically without form and void as yet. There are a few tilings required on the island which may be suggested as indispensible—(l) Housing for women and children. This should surely bo better done than in two-storied glorified barns, in which anything like scientific segregation is impossible. I have seen hospital huts built of asbestoliito sheeting, having- most of the windows " glazed " with unbleached calico, and verandahs on each side the full | length of the hut, which ought to be a 1 good form of construction. (2) Floored tents for men. These could easily be stored in small huts near to the site for erection when required. (3) Sanitary conveniences. These should be at least 50 per cent, more ample than ordinary shore requirements. In theso days of wireless, shipping could easily be instructed to advise fthe authorities when still two days from port, the nature of any outbreak of illness on board. On receipt of such wireless information, gangs of men and sanitary inspectors could be sent at onco from the city to the quarantine station to prepare for the infected ship's arrival. These gangs could be back m the city before the passengers and crew were landed, thus escaping contact and obviating the necessity of organising either the ship's crew or passengers into fatigue gangs after arrival, as in the case of Ithe Niagara, after a lot of delay. The ship could be cleared ot passengers and all members of the crew not absolutely essen tia-1 to the ship's working, immediately after arrival, and tho period of actual quarantine detention would be the period of delay. The Niagara's passengers have been subjected to at least eieht days' extra delay on account of the lack of theso essentials at tho Auckland quarantine irround on Motuihi. Tim lent positions should be so plotted that in rainy weather drainage could not flow from one to another. There is ample room for this to b» done. The kitchens, administrative office, post office, and meal sheds should be placed on the crest of the hill, where the main Niagara camp was situated, and the present buildings remodelled for the accommodation of patients and contacts only. An encircling, well-drained road should then be made to cut off the kitchen and other buildings mentioned from the huts and tents. The hut* and tents could then be grouped on tho lower side of that encircling road. At the rear of tho tent positions a double belt of pine Ibrees should be planted to serve the dual purpose of acting as windbreaks and as screons for approach to the sanitary conveniences. It would bo a nrstake to spend a lot of money on mere improvements on the existing state of affairs, but let everything be worked out on a comprehensive and pro-arranged plan." INFLUENZA AT KOTUEE. TWENTY-SIX CASES REMAIN. Since Thursday 56 patients have been discharged from the Motuihi quarantine station and 26 persons aro still left iu quarantine. Major Pettit states that the remaining patients are mostly niemhors of the Niagara's crow. Three p.re in a serious condition and the others are progressing very favourably, and may be considered to be in the convalescent stage.