QUARANTINE CONDITIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20923, 13 July 1931, Page 8

QUARANTINE CONDITIONS.

An emphatic recommendation by the Board of Health that the present system of quarantine observed in New Zealand should be abolished, the English method being substituted for it, should not be allowed to pass without further consideration. The English system—that o£ isolating the sick and keeping contacts under surveillance; — would enable the quarantine stations now maintained at Auckland •and Wellington to be turned to other uses. The proposal has two points of interest, at least for Auckland'. One is local and intimate. If the quarantine station at this port were discharged from further service for that purpose, the great obstacle to complete utilisation of Motuihi Island as a marine park and pleasure resort would disappear. If both this and the Wellington station were abandoned, on the representations of the Board j of Health, substantial economies in public expenditure would be effected. The Department of Health has expanded its activities, and consequently its calls on public funds, considerably in recent years. Any legitimate saving would be very welcome, therefore, apart from the general call for economy at present in all public expenditure. The only real question at issue is whether the quarantine conditions that have obtained so long can be discarded with safety. This is not to be decided by a lay verdict. The professional advisers to the Board of Health say definitely that it can be'done, suggesting that what is held sufficient by countries with sea-borne traffic that makes that of New Zealand an insignificant trickle •by comparison, should be adequate for this country. The opinion was given years ago and is repeated now. If this is not considered sufficient, other advice could be obtained. There is enough in the proposition to justify its being carried further. If it can be shown that safety demands retention of the stations,' there is nothing more to be said; if not, the advantages of discarding them would be sufficient to merit prompt action to that end.