SCHOOLS NOT TO BE CLOSED

Southland Times, Issue 23181, 23 April 1937, Page 8

SCHOOLS NOT TO BE CLOSED

Infantile Paralysis THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 22. The following telegram was received from the acting Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) by the secretary of the Auckland Hospital Board: ‘I have considered the resolution of your board that all schools in the Auckland district should be closed and children prohibited from attending picture theatres and other places of entertainment as from tomorrow (Friday) in order to prevent the spread of infantile paralysis. “The Director-General of Health (Dr M. H. Watt) advises me that immediate action of this nature is not warranted by the present circumstances. A close watch is being kept by the department, however, and, if necessary, I shall not hesitate to take the action you recommend.” One of the two cases admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Wednesday has been found to be positive, the victim being a child from Devonport. The other patient, an infant from Western Springs, was a negative case. There was admitted to the hospital today a child from a settlement north of Helensville, who was a suspected case. In addition a positive case had been admitted to the Thames Hospital from Waimata, near Waihi, and a suspected case, a Maori child, has been admitted to the Tauranga Hospital. Since April 12 eight positive cases of infantile paralysis have been admitted to the Auckland Hospital and, of these, one died. He was a young man who came from Kaukapakapa. In addition to the seven positive cases now in hospital there are four suspect patients under observation.

DIAGNOSIS PROVES POSITIVE (United Press Association) OAMARU, April 22. A youth of 18 from the country was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday and diagnosed as a mild case of infantile paralysis. PREVALENCE OF DISEASE DECREASING (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 22. A girl aged nine was admitted to the Public Hospital on Tuesday and has now been proved to be a positive case of infantile paralysis. A boy aged three was admitted last evening as a positive case. The girl is from the city area and the boy from Upper Hutt. The authorities point out that the prevalence of the disease is decreasing because of the colder weather, pected cases. TWO FURTHER CASES (United Press Association) TAURANGA, April 22. A case of infantile paralysis was reported this morning from a nearby Maori Pa, a Maori girl, aged 3| years. Another case of infantile paralysis has occurred at Opotiki, a ten-year-old white girl, from the coast. The schools in Opotiki are closing. ANZAC CELEBRATIONS CANCELLED (United Press Association) HAMILTON, April 22. As a precautionary measure against infantile paralysis, Anzac.Day celebrations in Hamilton have been cancelled. The total cases in hospital are 17, the latest admissions being a girl of 13, positive, a Maori child of five months from Matamata and a girl of five years near Taupiri, the latter two being sus-