SMALL-POX RESTRICTIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8609, 20 December 1913, Page 13

SMALL-POX RESTRICTIONS

Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, December 19. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes, Minister for Public Health, referred toMiay to a Melbourne cablegram to the effectthat Dr Compton, Federal Health Ofiicer, had frequently applied for information regarding the condition of the small-pox epidemic in New Zealand, and that when information arrives he would decide what action to take in connection with the maintenance of the quarantine restrictions against New Zealand visitors, Mr Rhodes said he could not understand tho delay on the part of the Federal health authorities in entirely removing restrictions. On November 25th Dr Compton informed the New Zealand Health Department of the amended restrictions, and on the 27th tho department telegraphed him that as there were then only five Cases in the Dominion, which would be discharged at the end of that week, the restrictions regulating vaccination of passengers between Australia and New Zealand should ho removed. On the 28th ultimo Dr Compton replied that he was willing to consider the removal of the restrictions, but would first like to have a report on tho conditions in New Zealand. A letter was written that day giving the doctor particulars of the then convalescent cases. On December 9th tho department telegraphed to Dr Compton again, suggesting that the restrictions should be removed, as there was only one case in. tho Dominion. The patient was in Hamilton Hospital, and would be discharged at the end of tho week. The message also said that no cases had been reported since November 4th. On December 10th Dr Compton telegraphed to the department asking for an account of tho cessation of the epidemic in the districts affected, the distribution of the cases, and the measures taken to ascertain the absence of cases among Maoris. On tho 11th inst. the department wrote to him giving full information that had already been supplied him in bulletins, and stating with regard to the absence of cases among Maoris that the lately infected districts were being patrolled regularly, that the reports were that the districts were clear, and that the system of patrolling would he maintained until well into tho New Year. Tho communication stated that whilst commending Dr Compton for his zeal in safeguarding the Commonwealth interests tho Dominion Public Health Department maintained that the continuation of tho restrictions would only render the responsible authorities ridiculous, especially as tho restrictions had been so greatly modified in the case of persons leaving Sydney, where, from reports to hand, it would appear that the epidemic had not been entirely subdued.