PORT INSPECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 12

PORT INSPECTIONS.

HEALTH ON BOARD SHIPS. MODIFICATIONS NOW PROPOSED. The troublesome process of conducting health inspections before overseas vessels berth in New Zealand ports may shortly be relaxed as far as visitors from Australia are concerned, and the formalities may be carried out after berthing. A report, indicating that such a change was likely was presented to the last meeting of the Board of Health in Wellington by the DirectorGeneral of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt. He stated that it was hoped to inaugurate medical inspection alter berthing at some convenient time. In the event of sickness on vessels, or should epidemic conditions exist in Australia, the inspection would be carried out in the stream as at present.

Tile proposal was approved by the Board of Health. Now Zealand is one of the few advanced countries in the world which clings to inspections before berthing. The delays involved have been re marked on rather critically by travellers, says a Wellington paper. Many tourists have complained bitterly of the necessity for rising early in New Zealand ports and waiting in queues while the vessel swings at anchor. The procedure of passing the doctor is dispensed with entirely in Sydney. Great Britain has no system of individual medical examination for entrants. Opinion has been strongly m favour of shortening the formalities in New Zealand. The proximity of Australia, the readiness with which sickness on a vessel can be notified by wireless, and the ease with which" health authorities in the Dominion and in the Commonwealth can-co-operate, render the lengthy harbour inspection unnecessary in the view of both travellers and many medical experts. Apparently the modification of the procedure will not apply to passenger vessels from Great Britain and San Francisco. The fact that no port is touched between Australia and New Zealand reduces the avonue through which epidemics can be introduced into New Zealand, and i<he complication of keeping a check on any contacts from interim ports does not arise.