PLAGUE PRECAUTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18215, 7 October 1922, Page 10

PLAGUE PRECAUTIONS.

THERMOMETERS ON SHIPS. DENIAL OF ALLEGATIONS. NO NEED FOR CONTINUANCE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL 1 REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. _ A statement was made in tho House tcrdiiy by tho Minister for Health, in r«ply to the allegations by a Sydney doctor respecting the methods adopted by the Health Department in examining passengers landing at New Zealand ports from Australia. The Hon. C. J. Parr said that, prior to tho matter being mentioned in the House by the Leader of the Opposition, he had directed th<J»attention of Dr. Frenglev to the allegations, and had now received a report from Dr. McLean, the port health officer at Wellington, tho statements made by the Australian mcdical man having had reference to the examination of passengers by the Tahiti at that port. The report was to the effect that it was the custom to first examine the crew of a vessel, so that they could get on with their work. The first-class passengers and then the second-class pas- . scngers were next- taken, followed by j Chinese and Japiuiese passengers. It sometimes happened that, if the first-class .passengers were not ready for the examin- ; ation, tho second-class passengers were first taken. j Tho statement that the thermometers j and ciher instruments were not properly ; sterilised was not true. The examining staff was supplied with an ample quantity of instruments, so that tho work could proceed without hitch, and^the sterilising process was always supervised by the port health officer find carried out by two capablo nurses. • The port Health officer stated that he | was satisfied the sterilising of the ther- ■ r.iometers wis always 'complete, so that no passenger need hesitate to use them, j The Minister added that the taking of jtha temperatures of people, coming from 1 ports had been very necessary when there was the danger of tho disease spreading, and this system had been in operation for tho past year. But, in his opinion, it could now be discontinued. Although there might still be I risk of infection from rat#;, the risk of human infection through tho agency of people coming from Sydney had considerably diminished, and he had decided from j now on to dispense with the taking of 1 temperatures.

KAURI GUM INDUSTRY.

NEW SYSTEM OF CONTROL.

THE NEED FOE A GEADEE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday. A brief-reference to the future control of the kauri gum industry was made by the Minister for Lands to-day, when discussing the estimates of the Department of Londs and Survey. Mr. Gutnrio said that regulations for, the control of the industry we'ro now Wing prepared, and when these were put into operation tho industry would bo put on a totally different footing. The necessity for appointing a gum grader Was constantly being under his - notice, and ho agreed that such an officer 1 should be eppointed. He was. already considering tho qualifications of a number of m<en, and before long he should be able to announce that a selection had been made.