QUARANTINE ISLANDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10138, 28 November 1918, Page 6

QUARANTINE ISLANDS

MAY BE WANTED. WHAT ABOUT INTERNMENT CAMPS? i Replying to a question asked by Mr C. H. Poole (M.P. for Auckland West), in tho House of Representatives yesterday. the Minister for Public Health smicl that if it was found that there was influenza on board the mail steamer JViakura on bar arrival in Auckland she would be quarantined for whatever period might be considered necessary. Re had no information as yet, however, that there w-as influenza on boon! the Makura. The quarantine islands were at present, in charge of the Munster tor Defence os internment camps lor lieiman prisoners of war, and he must refer tha boijfe,member to him for information as toTHs intentions in regard to evacuating those islands. . Mr Poole asked tho Defence Minister to state his intentions. Sir James Allen said that it was a very difficult thmsr to remove the German. prisoners at present; but, if occasion arose, he would remove them, take them away from the Auckland district entirely, and place them in Featherston Carat*. He had no desire to take them away, however, and if the Public Health Department would choose a suitable site in the neighbourhood of Auckland ho would have a camp established for quarantine purposes. LOST TIME HARDSHIPS ON FACTORY AND SHOP WORKERS. Yesterday Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) drew the attention of the Minister for Public Health to the fact that the health authorities in the south had enforced the closing of factories and shops. This meant that the employees had been deprived of two hours’ work a day or one and a half days a week. The Arbitration Act stipulated that the employees must receive so much a week, but in many cases the wages were being deducted. Would the Health Department see that these men were c'ompensated; also could the Health Departmen override the Arbitration Act? The Hon. G. W. Russell replied that tho powers of the health officers under the Act were absolute. The payment of the employees in respect of the hours not worked was a legal question for the Minister for Labour to answer. The Minister for Labour (Mr Massey): I will be glad to submit the nrint to the Crown Law Office for an "opinion.. ORANGES AND LEMONS SCHEME OF FAIR DISTRIBUTION. The Hon. G. W. Russell stated Irst night that he had had a conference with his colleague, the Hon. A. M. Myers, and as a result committees have been set up at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin for the purpose of ensuring a fair distribution of such oranges and lemons as may be secured by the Government for sufferers from influeiaza. The headquarters committee consists of the Secretary for Public Health, the Chief Executive Officer of the Munitions and Supplies Department, and the Director of Supplies and Transport. District committees at the four centres above referred to consist of the 'District Health Officer, tho Assistant Director of Supplies and Transport for the district, and the Fruit Inspector for the port. The Police Department has been asked to®instruct their officers to hand over such supplies (if any) that hare been commandeered by them and have not yet been distributed to the committees that have been set up, and similar action will be taken as regards such further parcels as may be commandeered by the police, after which the Munitions Department will tngo action as regards obtaining supplies of fruit. The local committees, having decided on the requirements of their districts, and having distributed tha local supply to the best advantage, notify (ho headquarters committee. This enables the Munitions Department to arrange for supplies where there is a shortage, and for the Director of Transport to arrange for a surplus of fruit in one district being supplied to another. The Health Authorities, therefore, ask that all requests from local relief committees, etc., for oranges and lemons should be submitted to the Director of Supplies and Transport or to his local representative. A fair supply of oranges and lemons has to-day been received by 111'. Public Health Department from Auckland, and the Director of Supplies and Transport has taken the matter in hand with a view to supplying the local requirements, and, if possible, to sending a small supply to Christchurch, where there is an absolute dearth of citrus fruit.

Dunedin is at present short of oranges and lemons, only twenty-nine cases having arrived by the Te Anau, which were taken over by the Medical Bureau. The Hon. Mr Russell hopes that these arrangements will tend to ensure a regular supply of fruit to tho various centres. In this connection the Overseas Shipowners’ Committee yesterday kindly cabled their Sydney representative stating that they were prepared to sanctiontwo hundred cases of oranges being brought over from Sydney to Auckland on the Arawa. freight free, without responsibility. This action has been much appreciated, and the New Zealand Government agent at Sydney has been given instructions Jto secure the fruit accordingly. i REPORTS FROM SYDNEY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copj-right (Received November 27, 7.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 27. Four more deaths from influenza have occurred in quarantine. Owing to reports that Fiji is badly afflicted, the whole of tho Pacific Islands will now be regarded as infected. Vessels thence will be treated similarly to New Zealand shipping. Three inoculating depots were opened in the city to-day, and wore rushed. The Manuka has been released from quarantine. Medical men here, referring to a London cabled report that the Newcastle Vigilance Committee had boon informed that the influenza . epidemic there was due to bad bacon, and that a local medical man successfully treated 400 patients for swine fever rather than influenza, scout tho idea. Experiences in Sydney provide no ground fbr such a theory. That tho sanitary state of tho city is bad was borne out by a volunteer Inspector yesterday in conversation with n “Timas” reporter. lie stated that r : ne oart h'.’d- or ruVobh ivnv (akt-n fmm a row of new -flop* in Courtenay I place.

WIDOWS OF THE STRICKEN ' PAYMENT OF PENSIONS BEING FACILITATED. The question of the payment of widows’ ■pensions to those wnose breadwinners have fallen victims to the epidemic came before the House yesteruay m the form of a question by Dr. A. K.. Newman i Wellington East). The Minister lor Public Health (Hon. G. W. Russell) said there would be a great deal of very acute distress arising out pt the epidemic The question, of relief had not cme before Cabinet for consideration, in Auckland -tiIOOO had been collected by voluntary subscription. Mr J. P. Luke: We have collected £IOOO in Wellington. _ . . Tbe Minister added that an Christchurch it was being advocated that the responsibility in these matters must be considered from a national point of view. If that proposition were accepted it would mean a very large increase in the general expenditure in connection with the epidemic. However, the Government was desirous of doing all (mat was possible and Cabinet would consider the (trantinff of subsidies to voluntary ft Tho Hon. A. M. Myers said that in the special circumstances ho would give instructions to the Commissioner of Pensions to give every facility to widows. Dr. A. K. Newman. drew* attention to the fact that many people did not know where to apply. ~ , Mr Russell said ho would place the mutter before Cabinet with a view to having something done, but not on tho ordinary charitable aid lines. (Hear, Myersi Tho Minister in Charge of tho Police has instructed the police to maliQ inquiries as to tno position ot Mr J. Visor Brown asked that the. police proceed in the work in plain Cl The 9 Hon. T. M. Willard replied that that was not practicable. He had asked those who were left widows to give information to tfio police themselves. EXPLANATION BY MR R. A. ARMSTRONG. The Second Division League has received a number of inquiries as to whether the dependents of soldiers, who have died as a result of, the epidemic are entitled to war pensions. ... Mr R. A. Armstrong, president of the league, stated yesterday that under the War Pensions Act as amended last session there was no doubt whatever that pensions "would be payable to dependants* properly entitled to same, in &11 cases of death while in receipt of military pay, whether the death occurred in camp or outside camp. *The Act, however, did not cover the possibility of death occurring while tbo soldier was away from camp on special leave without pay, and in such cases, where claims were made, the Pensions Board would have to decide how far military service was responsible for the death.' The same condition would apply to claims made on account of the death otf soldiers recently discharged. The provisions of the “Widow’s Pensions Act” (civilian) also should _be "taken fully into consideration at this time. Under this Act claims may be made by the widows of soldiers in. addition to their military pensions, tbe receipt of which does not disqualify. Pensions may also be secured by all other widows (with children) whose general conditions comply with the provisions of the Act. Under this measure a widow with children can get £6 per annum for herself and £6 per annum for each child under fourteen with a further .£6 per annum for each child as a war bonus. Widows without children are not eligible for these pensions under the Civilian Act. There are deductions made of £1 l-cr annum for every £l. of annual income of tho widow and her''children in excess of .£3O. Such Assessment, however, does not include personal earnings which do not exceed £IOO per annum, and section 2p of the War Legislation Amendment Act, 1916, particularly lays down that the income derived from way pensions does not debar a widow and her children from benefitting under tine civilian scheme. Property is reduced to income value at the rate of 5 per cent, on capital value. Furniture and personal effects are not included in assessing tha value of property nor is any dwelling used ns a home up to £3lO in value. It is there, (ore possible for a widow with property to the total valne of £940, of which £340 is property used as her own home and no other income than personal earnings of not more than £IOO per annum, to obtain the full benefit of the civilian widow’s pension. The executive of the league were pleased to note that Government was contemplating some comprehensive scheme to. cope with tho distress following the epidemic; but in the meantime sufferers could get some small measure of assistance by availing themselves at once of the provisions under the Act as outlined. NOTES AND COMMENTS borne of the open spaces in the centre of the city do not look too clean. Vacant sections adjoining -dwellinghouses contain a vast variety of deposits, from horse manure to discarded bedding and other material likely to contain germs of disease. A shopkeeper who pointed out this fact yiasteruoy said taat the City Council could not repudiate responsibility for such a state of affairs. Some idea of the overcrowding evil may be gathered from a case that was brought under the notice of the •"Times” investigator yesterday. A foux-roomod house rn a narrow lane was found to be in possession of twelve persons. A gin is in charge of the house, and has two strange children in her care, although obviously unfit to be a foster-mother, and of course having no authority to act as such. Here, again, it wais pointed out, official action should be taken. The Mayor, speaking to a "'Times'’ reporter, pointed out that one great difficulty in connection with the slum evil was to find homes for the: unlortunate people who live in thorn. He would prefer to see homes built in the suburbs and the people given tram facilities at a low rate. ' There has been a falling off <to some extent in .the number of voluntary workers fighting tho epidemic. Thus is to be deplored, as although the general situation has much improved there is an :mu eit-e amount of work still, to do, and any slackening of effort only means additional work ior those who are car.)'l(U cu. “In view of the Mayor’s statements that Wellington is clean it is interesting to relate tho experiences of aomo of tha workers of Wellington Central,” said a worker yesterday. (Jno party, a taxidriver and two women workers, entered an alleged house of two rooms, where tna filth was indescribable. Ob. approaonmg the patient, who waa lying on a mattress that was rotting, tho visitors noticed a whip lying beside tho bed. On being asked what the whip was for tho patient replied, “To keep the rats off. You keep uik-nt and you will see tho rats come out." And so. thny dm. This was in tho broad daylight. West Indians wore put on to the job of cleaning up the house. When It wa® fliuaaed one of tho men said that ho had been in the yellow lover regions, but had never struck such a den as thus particular one in Tui street. The tenant of this house Is reputed to bo a miser. Another place was in Taranaki street, where tho patients wore removed- During their absence tho place was cleaned up by the special sanitary inspectors. Quo of the patients h.ih able (o leave llie hospital and when -he returned-to tho h.iu.-u r.-fu-fd to stay, saying "it was uot her Imm- !

CHINESE GENEROSITY The following donations to the Wellington Hospital Hoard have been received from the Chinese Association: Wong She, £ls 13s; Yee Chong Wing. £lO 10s; Sing On Tie, £lO 10s; Wah Kee Bros., £lO Rte; Kwong Xai Chong, £6 6s; Jog Leo Bros., £5 os; Young How, £3 ss; Joe Kwong Lee, £5; Chung Wah, £4 4s; Wong Young and Co.. £4 4s; Wong Tong, £3 3s; Kee Chong, £3 3s; Hong Ying and Co., £3s 3s; Sue Yow, £2 2s; Joe Lee Wah, £2 2s; Matthew Shum, £3 2s; Shew Ming Hon, £3 2s; Tom Hong, £3 3s; Sing Uu Kee, £3 2s; Yin Leo, £2 3s; Sun Young Kee, £3 2s; Wah Chong, £2 2s; Dick Lee, £3 2s; Yee Wah, £3 3s; O. 11. Jackson, £3 3s; Loui Look, £3 2s; Loo Jang, £3 2s; Wong Tern, £3 2s; Wong Chew, £2; D. J. Kwom, £3; Sun Tai IVah, £2; Chiw Kwok Chun, £1 Is; Joe To’s Bros., £1 Is; On Lee, £1 Is; She Sun Shing, £1 Is; Wong Kang Chog, £1 Is; Ngan Shew, £1 Is; Shin Geo, £1 Is; Dye Chum, £1 Is; Petone Wong To, £1 Is; Chow Boor, £1 Is; Kwong Chong and Co-, £1 Is; Wong Wah and Co., £1; L. King, £1; Loo Wing Loung, £1; Wong Tai, £1; Sue Shin Hang, £1: Sam Lee, £1; Ah Leoun, £1; Wing Lee Laundry, £1; Sun Wing Lee, £1; Sam Lee, £1; Sun Chong Kee, £1; Yee Yup Wah, £1; Hop Shing, 10s Cd; Goon King and Co.. 10s 6d; Tso Wye Cheo, 10s 6d; Joe Yow Wah, 10s 6d; fig an Chong, 10s 6d; Ngan Jang, 10s; Ng Mook, 10s; Loung Coon, 10s; Young Wai, 10s; Ah Fong, 10s; Sue Hoo, 10s; Jim Lee, 10s; Wong, 10s; Ngan Bing Bros., 10s; Kwong Maan Lee, 10s; Wah Shing, 10s; Wah Lee, 10s; WongLouilOs; Lue Chie Quong, 10s; SuoPoy Choung 10s ; Joe Tong, 10s; Chin Cheoug Jan, 10s; Joe Ran Pean, 10s; Ngan Ping, 10s; Lue Quo Hang, 10s; Tao Yuck Quin, 10s; Tao Kum Jbne, 10s; Tao 800 Ling, 10s; Young Wan Fee, 10s; Loui Wai Poon, 10b; Young Tung Lee, 10s; Chin She Choy, 10s; Wong Ming, 10s; Yep Poy, 10s; Joe Say, 10s; Sue Luo Lee, 10s; Tse Shon, 10s; Ngan Tong, 10s; Kwan Wah, 10s; Ngnn Yan Kum, 10s; Chue Ying, 10s; Wong Tong Wai, 10s; Sam Kee, 10s; Y r eo Lee, 7s 6d; Turn Kui, 6s; Jos Jack Hi, ss; Ng Kwoa Chie, ss; Y r ep Chong, ss; Loo Taong, ss; Wong Taze Taong, ss; Yep Moungo, ss; Kong Yan, ss; Tao Hang, ss; Kong Ring Choy, ss; Yep Kim Cheong, ss; Joe Houg, ss; Wong Ling Lung, ss; Joe Meo Yung, ss; Joe Quin, ss; Lock Kui IVon, ss; Yun Ying, ss; Dye Yan Cheong, ss; Young Maan, ss; Wong Hang Won, ss; Wong Kui, ss; Too Puun, ss; Yee Yin, ss; Wong Jim, ss; Ng She Sum, ss; Tse Quin, ss; Ngan ohling Jong, ss; Ngan Ping Che, ss; Ngan Lai Bong, ss; Young Mook, ss; Yop Kum, Lun, ss: Joe Kelt, ss; Yep Sing, ss; Joe Wing Kwan, ss; Loo Yam Quong, ss; Young Lee, ss; Ng Yi Jim, sa; Loung Kee, ss; Lee Chong, ss; Ngan Yat Ping, ss; Loo Lee, ss; Chin Moon Jai, ss; Chin Vu Kaw, ss; Chin Yu Faff, ss; Don Mon Ying, ss; Tso Check, ss; Law Fong Lali, ss; Pan Shing, 4s;/Ngan Tin, 5s 6d; Ghee Mee, 3s; Young Joe, 3s; Yep Won, 3s; Joe Choi, 3s; Lim Jong Tai, 3s; Song Lee, 3s; Kong Kuong, 3s; Loo Yuk Chat, 3s 6d; Wong Dak, 3s 6d; Fong Choy, 2s 6d; Tso Chong Hoi, 2s 6d; Wong Yu, 2s 6d: Sue Ping. 2s 6d; Sun Lee, 2s 6d; Ng Kaw, 2s 6d; Tso Woon, 2s; Shum Kelt Cheong, 2sj making a total of £lB6 8s Gd. OTHER TOWNS Press Association. OHRlSiunoitCH, November 27. Kepurts icgaruuig tue Wautuu epidemic coiiimue lavouraoie, anu tue oteauy impiovemkar oi pne past lew aay-s aim coiilin ucs. Ji.amissu.Us to Ule uospiuds yesteruay totuiieu .seventeen, and deaths mno. . lesieruay o victims include JJt C. P. Little, who ior twenty yeur a practised in XNonu c-auleroury. PaiVuiuliniJi, iNoveiuder 27. i'ho (leaim ion luiu umucuza slum, alomiay numoers seven. Ahe uiwu, ivuivu uus uceu ciosea ior a foruugut, is now olowiy j.esuuuiiig Us normal activities. iiie position suoiiu a ueciued impiovement as regards iresii cases reported. HUINKHiIN, iNOtemper 27. Dr Bowie expresses commence mat the coiner has peen turned regarding the epidemic. JUe Is convinced that uu Situation has been mastered. People have only to continue to pay due regain to necessary precautions. Very few new cases of sickness have been reported. INVERCARGILL, November 27. A definite improvement can now be reported. The vigilance committee re ports the position in town to bo eminently satisfactory, and there is a marked improvement in the country. Business is still closed down to release employees for tho fight against tho epidemic. Nearly fifty members of the railway stau and over sixty post and telegraph officials are still off duty, but convalescents are beginning to return. The oases ik> ported to the vigilance committee, and udniission 8 to tbe hospital are rapidly decreasing. There are fewer serious cases. Organisation is being continued with unabated energy to stamp the disease but. Conditions certainly will be more normal early next week. The Mayor telegraphed to tho Premier asking that the Dominion’s needs in regard to financial relief should be met from the consolidated revenue. THAMES, November 27. The Thames epidemic is well undoi control. There are a few new cases in country districts. The Maoris suffered severely, but tho worst is now over with theD NEW PLYMOUTH, November 27. * The epidemic is well in hand here as a result of tho energetic and efficient work of the ditizens’ health committee, but tho position in the country districts, especially amongst the Maoris, is not so satisfactory. The New Plymouth committee is now throwing (in its _ whole weight and organisation into helping the country districts from Opunake to Mokau and south to Tariki to combat the disease, which in places is in a virulent form. Every settlor's home and Maori whare is being inspected by specially trained men, and hospitals are being established in every country centre, tho town committee providing women and men helpers, medicine, etc., whilst the worst case* are being brought into tho Now Plymouth Hospital.