FULL PRECAUTIONS TAKEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8480, 15 July 1913, Page 8

FULL PRECAUTIONS TAKEN

WHAT HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS DOING. After careful investigation, the Public Health Department has come to tho conclusion that it is warranted in diagnosing tho epidemic among tho natives as a mild form of small-pox. This will probably mean that vaccination will be strictly enforced in many cases where hitherto it has only been optional, and that even greater precautions than at present will be taken in the effort to prevent the disease from spreading. There is no doubt that tho infection has been disseminated within a few days past by the movement of nativen from the affected areas. Dr. Valintino, Chief Health Officer, informed a “Times” -representative last evening that one case had just been reported from Ormondville and another from Takapau. In each instance tho patient, a native, had been isolated, and so had all tho contacts. No further

European cases had been reported.

VACCINATION OPTIONAL. Asked whether it was intended to enforce the vaccination of all pupils at schools and colleges. Dr. Valintine replied that bis instructions were that no compulsion was to bo used. Vaccination in such cases would only be voluntaryIt had not been deemed necessary to enforce the penal clauses of the Act yet, said the Chief Health Officer, for so many people were being vaccinated voluntarily in the non-infected areas that this extreme stop was not requir-, od. There was a very heavy demand for vaccine from most parts of the North. Island, and the action of the department in holding on to supplies had led to an impression going abroad that the stocks were low. This, however, was incorrect. The position was that the department was holding all the vaccine available for dispatch to the infected areas as it was required. “We must do this.” Dr. Valintine explained. “If we gave it out as medical men want us to, our supplies would quickly be exhausted. We are therefore dealing it out in small quantities to non-infected areas and keeping our main supply for use where the infection is. We never know when wo pay have to rush a big quantity up (nto an infected area to meet an urgent call. We will, however, soon have enough to satisfy every demand, save one on an altogether unprecedented peale. _ Ten thousand tubes have been sent to 'Auckland in r.ho last two days, end about the same quantity has gone jin the past week to other parts of the country. At the end of this week we should have a very big supply on hand.” MORE AND MORE GENERAL.

Though not yet compulsory, vaccination is becoming more and more general In the city. The public vaccinators are all busy. Yesterday six or seven of them attended in turn at the Hospital Board’s offices in Marion street, and in the course of the day [attended to about 215 people. Officers of the Civil Service havo been given a strong hint that it is (very desirable for them all to be vaccinated at the earliest opportunity. [They have not been ordered to submit rto tho operation, but the suggestion (which has gone forth is almost in tho nature of an instruction. Many of (them visited a vaccinator last week in anticipation of this developmentMEETING OF CABINET. Cabinet met yestordev afternoon and considered the 'position regarding [developments of the outbreak of small|pox. The Prime -Minister subsequently (stated that there was nothing fresh to report, beyond the decisions reached on Saturday. It had not yet been [considered necessary to make' any further restriction? on travelling, nor to (make vaccination compulsory. i RESTRICTIONS ON MOVEMENT OF MAORIS. Notifications have been issued by the Chief Health Officer forbidding any Maori in the North Island to leave a.native settlement supposed to be injected unless ho can produce proof of (successful vaccination within the previous month or can satisfy an inspector that ho is not likely to convey [infection. Another notification by Dr Valintine forbids the carriage of any Maori or half-caste, “in any public conveyance [by sea or land plying in any port or between any ports of the North Island,” unless the native can produce ’a certificate authorising him to travel

MAORIS AND THE RACES. Representations were made by the Health Department yesterday to the .Wellington Racing Club to the effect .that Maoris should be refused admisision to tho Treutham course for the (races to-morrow and on Saturday. In (reply the club intimated that it could I not see its way to prevent Maoris going on the course whilo they were allowed in the hotels and places of (amusement in tho city. The matter (Was discussed further at a meeting of (stewards last evening, but the decision (could not bo obtained last night. SAFEGUARDING THE CITY. NO SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS YET IMPOSED. The Mayor informed a “Times” reporter yesterday that ho had had a conference with the city engineer (Mr W. H. Morton) regarding the steps that should be taken to safeguard the health of the community. There had been an allocation on the estimates of £IOOO for scavenging in excess of the previous year, and a similar amount for the collection of refuse from houses, so that these two services, which were considerable factors in maintaining tho health of the community, were well looked after. Representations had been made to the Health Department, and the council would co-operate in every possible way with it to prevent tho spread of the epidemic. It was well known that a large number of Maoris congregated in places adjacent to the Parliamentary Buildings, and ho had communicated with th* Health Department, on this matter. Nothing had yet occurred that warranted any special regulations in regard to the tramways. No doubt the council would consider the matter at tho special meeting to be held this evening. One thing was certain that if there were any Maoris in the city who were from places that were affected by small-pox they should not bo permitted to use the trams.

The sanitary inspectors under the City Council are combining with the Health Department in taking precautionary measures to prevent an outbreak of small-pox in Wellington. Certain inspections have been made, and last evening a conferece was held by the inspectors to consider what further steps should be taken. SEAFARERS VACCINATED. Dr Pollen yesterday vaccinated the passengers .mu crew of the Pateena. He also vaccinated the crews of the Blenheim, Arawa, Indrabarah, and firemen of the Maori. The passengers of the Maori, numbering between sixty and seventy, were similarly treated. Many members of the Wellington Harbour Board's staff were also vaccinated yesterday.