MATUA INCIDENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22618, 5 January 1937, Page 10

MATUA INCIDENT

PASSENGERS ANNOYED NOT ALLOWED TO LAND RESTRICTIONS AT APIA INFANTILE PARALYSIS ALARM Refused permission to land at Apia because of local infantile paralysis restrictions, five passengers who left Auckland by the Matua on December 15 for Western Samoa were compelled to go on with the ship to Suva, where two of them disembarked. The three others returned to Auckland yesterday and, acting as spokesman for them. Mr. H. Edwards, an Auckland business man who travelled in the ship for the round cruise, expressed keen dissatisfaction with the Apia restrictions and with the attitude of the authorities there. Before her arrival at Apia, said Mr. Edwards, the Matua had called at both Rarotonga and Nukualofa, and at neither place was any restriction placed upon the passengers, all of whom were permitted to land and to mingle freely with the people on shore. The medical officers at both places afforded the passengers every courtesy. No Examination After the ship had left Nukualofa with a clean bill of health rumours were circulated that nobody would be allowed to land at Apia. These were discounted, but on the vessel's arrival, contrary to custom, the local medical officer did not come on board to make an examination and the quaratine flag remained at the masthead.

"Notwithstanding the fact that tho flag was still flying, and although the passengers were not allowed ashore," said Mr. Edwards. " lighters and launches carrying about 150 native labourers, overseers, and policemen came alongside. These men came on board and the work of discharging and loading began. Europeans and native labourers shook hands and conversed with the passengers for Samoa. Masks were worn for a short time, but were soon discarded. When work ceased for the day the men working the ship left for their homes and returned again in the morning. But in spite of the fact that the labourers were allowed to go to their homes, quarantine at the quarantine station was denied passengers who were resident at Apia. Labourers on Board "One of the passengers for Samoa asked the doctor why they were not placed in quarantine," said Mr. Edwards, "and the reply was that quarantine is 'useless in infantile paralysis.' The passenger asked why labourers and others were allowed aboard and permitted to return to their homes in spite of the quarantine, and the doctor said that they were in the fresh air and would not be affected. One could hardly call the air in the holds and alley-ways fresh. "During the afternoon the actingAdministrator arrived at the gangway and was interviewed by two of the Samoan residents. No satisfaction could be gained—neither a medical examination nor an opportunity for a conference to enable the position to be discussed. "Within an hour of arrival the quarantine had developed into a farce, but nevertheless the position remained the same until the vessel sailed for Suva. The passengers for Apia were unable to land and were compelled to proceed with the ship." Questions Asked

Mr. Edwards said that tho passengers desired the following questions to be cleared up by the authorities:—(l 1 * Why was quarantine necessary when all on board had been passed by medical officers at Rarotonga and Ntikualofa, and the vessel given a clean bill of health? (2) With a quarantine station ashore, why were the passengers for Samoa not allowed to go into quarantine there? (3) In view of the fact that the vessel was quarantined, why did the authorities not see that the quarantine was properly" observed? (4) Why should masks be supplied to only a limited number of the ship's complement to wear, instead of to the labourers who actually came aboard and were supposed to be protected?