INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1918, Page 2

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

THE TOWNSPEOPLE'S HELP. FARMERS EXPRESS APPRECIATION. The chairman of the executive of the Farmers' Union suggested to the meeting on Thursday that they should pass a Vote of thanks to the townspeople •throughout Taranaki for the splendid assistance they had given the country people during the recent epidemic. It was only right that this meeting should acknowledge this fact by expressing its sincere thanks, and he moved accordingly. Mr. Pierce seconded. Mr. Mills, in supporting the motion, said that the townspeople of Hawera had risen manfully to the occasion. Certainly they had done a great deal to help the country, and he was inclined to think that one of the results may be to bring about a better understanding between town and country. There had always been a certain amount of misunderstanding or petty jealousy, and probably the splendid manner in which townspeople assisted their country neighbors during the epidemic would result in a greatly-improved feeling between town and country The motion was unanhnj ousiy carried FACTORY "BACHES."

Mr Dunn said that he appreciated Mr. Washer's motion, and as one of the country helpers he took to himself and his co-workers some of the sentiments expressed. Their work had involved a great deal of self-sacrifice and strenuous work in trying to help those stricken with the epidemic, and no one who had -Hot been Tight amongst it could poßsibly realise the conditions that prevailed throughout the country Whole families had gone down absolutely without any ielp whatever until the neighbors manfully came and did all they could to help to get the cows milked. It was impossible to get outside help, and sometimes the cows were milked under very trying circumstances. But, after all, this epidemic might prove to be a blessing in disguise. They talked about slums in the cities, but they had slums in the country as well. He trusted that those people who had not been as cleanly as they might have been would take warning and see to the sanitation and cleanliness of their homes. If this were now done and properly attended to right along it might be the means of preventing something more serious in the future. Another matter that ho wished to refer to was the fact that no one appeared to be responsible for looking after the "baches" at the dairy factories. One would suppose that this was the duty of •the Health Department, but evidently ihey considered the onus lay with the Dairy Division officers, who claimed that •they had to do only with the interior of ■the dairy factories, but the fact remained that someone should see that these /'baches" were kept clean and sanitary. The men themselves were to blame for Jiving under conditions that they should pot do.

Mr. Buckeridge: They should get married.

Mr Astbury considered it should be the duty of the factory manager to see that all buildings, * including the "baches," were kept as clean as the interior of the factory. Mr Pierce considered that it would be a difficult matter for any manager or director or chairman to interfere with the men's private life. If they did so the men would quickly say that they did not waat their job and clear out.—Star.