CHILDREN’S PERMITS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23081, 6 January 1937, Page 8

CHILDREN’S PERMITS

TRAVELLING FROM DUNEDIN STRICT PRECAUTIONS OBSERVED WELLINGTON STATEMENTS DENIED A denial of the statements made in Wellington as to laxity in the issuing of permits for persons with children tc travel from Dunedin to Wellington was made by the medical officer jf health. Dr T. M‘Kibbin. in an interview yesterday. Dr M'Kibbin said that travel permits for children were given only in special circumstances, and he made a point of securing acquiescence from the health authorities in the districts concerned before allowing parents to take their children away from Dunedin or from anywhere between Mosgiel and Port Chalmers. “ The Railways Department has maintained a very firm attitude with respect to the ban on travelling by children under 16 years,” Dr MTCibbin said, “ and no effort has been spared by the road patrols, comprising Highways Board inspectors and county officials, to prevent children under 16 years from leaving Dunedin. The work of the road patrols, however, is difficult, and it i< possible that some persons may have avoided them, but it is not likely that many will have done so. If any unauthorised departures have been' made from Dunedin by road it will not have been through any fault on the part of the patrols.”

Dr M'Kibbin showed a reporter a file of applications for permits to travel with children to other centres. In every case full particulars had been telegraphed to the health authorities in the centres concerned, with the names and ages of the children and the addresses to which they were going. The dates on which they proposed to travel were also mentioned, and the agreement of th? authorities concerned was awaited before the children were allowed to travel, while instructions were given for the observance of any quarantine conditions demanded.

There was only one case on the files, added Dr M'Kibbin, in which a person had sought permission to travel from Dunedin and to stay in a boarding house in the north. The fact that it was intended to stay in a boarding house made it desirable that a permit should be obtained. The person concerned wished to travel to Wellington, but even after the Wellington authorities had announced their agreement the person had decided not to make the trip. Any allegations, therefore, that no serious or effectual steps were taken to check or question departures from Dunedin were without foundation.