The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1919. A DEADLY INDICTMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1919. A DEADLY INDICTMENT.

The report of the Commission set up to enquire into and report upon the circumstances and causes of the introduction of_ epidemic pneumonia influenza into Samoa makes very painful reading. It is clearly established that the island was free from the disease until the arrival of the Talune from Auckland, where the epidemic was raging virulently. Seven days, about the incubation period, after the vessel's arrival the pneumonia influenza was epidemic in Upolu, and then it spread throughout the islands, laying low the population and causing deaths totalling 8500, or about a fourth of the population. In addition, many people are even now suffering from the aftereffects of the disease, whilst others are totally or partially incapacitated. It is a terrible story, and a deadly indictment of the New Zealand Health Department, which permitted the vessel with its death-dealing disease aboard to infect the islands. The Commission's report shows that, notwithstanding the fact that a clean bill of health was given to the ship, no mention of the disease that was then rife in Auckland, and claiming its hundreds of victims, was mentioned in the bill. Natives are known to be pai'ticularly prone to pneumonic disease, even in its mildest form, and one would think the New Zealand authorities would have taken particular pains to prevent the disease reaching the islands in the tropical zone, where the powers of resistance are less than among the hardier native population of this Dominion. Apart, however, from consideration for the natives that had just come under our protection, it was clearly the duty of the Health Department, to localise the disease as much as possible and not allow it to spread anywhere outside. It had its lesson after the arrival of the Niagara. But it failed to learn it. When the disease broke out with such virulence in Auckland, when its extraordinary infeetivity became known, when the unparalleled mortality began to stagger the northern city, the Health Department even then did nothing to segregate the disease. No restrictions whatever were placed on the railway or steamer services, hence in a week or two the disease spread throughout the Dominion, with results too fresh in the minds of the people to need recapitulation. The Department failed absolutely in its duty by the people whose health it was supposed to protect, and it failed, with even more tragic results, in the case of the unfortunate Sahioans. A clearer case of almost criminal dereliction of duty has never before been sheeted home, and if Parliament does not take action at the first opportunity in removing the Health Minister from the position he.has so completely mishandled and also removing the officers under him guilty of neglect and incompetence, then it will not do justice to itself or satisfy the outraged feelings of the public'