DOMINION WAR NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15455, 18 September 1914, Page 7

DOMINION WAR NEWS.

THE MAORI CONTINGENT. ACCEPTED FOR EGYPT. (Faoii Ocb Special Coekespondbnt.J WELLINGTON. Sept. 17. In a statement this evening regarding the Imperial Government's acceptance of the services, of a Maori Contingent for Egypt, the Prime Minister said that the natives of course would not be departing with the main .Expeditionary Force. He presumed that the Maoris were to be taken to" Egypt in order that their possibilities for service at the front might be ascertained. "I have another proposal on hand in regard to tho natives.." Mr Massey added, "but I an not able to say anything about that yet."

A MEDICAL OBJECTION. MAORIS SUBJECT TO TYPHOID. DANGER OF "CARRIERS." (Per Press Association.) Grave risks will be taken, in forming a Contingent, of Maori Volunteers, ac- -•?; cording to :i statement made in an. interview bv the District Health. Officer,. Dr Ms.gill. He declared that typhoid fever has been so widespread among the native population this winter that the gathering of a large number of * Maoris will almost certainly result in an epidemic of the disease. Dr Magill stated that during the present winter typhoid has been rife among Maori people of Auckland province, and in parts at least of Wellington province. ' There are veiy few native settlements in Auckland province that have escaped a visitation, and in some places the disease has been very severe. In July 40 cases of typhoid were notified, 30 of them being Maoris, and in August there were 43 Maori cases in a total of 63 notified. The habits of the Maoris are such, said Dr Magill, that even with the strict supervision of a military camp it would be very difficult to prevent the spread of infection. Even if a medical examination were able to eliminate natives sickening for disease there always remains the danger of "carriers" —persons who have recovered from the disease, but iu whose bodies the bacilli still exist and are discharged from time to time. "Carriers" are known to have been tho cause of many epidemics. They are extremely difficult to detect, as the infection is not always apparent to .'j examination. It is certain that a number of "carriers" would be included in any contingent formed of ./ Maoris. It' would be extremely dangerous to collect a couple of hundred natives in one camp or in one ship. Asked whether there was not a s'milar risk of "carriers" creating an epidemic in the ma.:n Expeditionary Force, Dr. Magill explained that a very much larger proportion of Maoris has. suffered from the disease 'than of tht* white population. Not only was risk-of "carriers" in white troops much less, but the latter were better protected by the fact that their habits were not so conducive to the spread of infection. . Dr Magill agreed that inoculation would prcbablv protect the natives but it would not destroy the danger of "carriers.'-

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. CABLE RESTRICTIONS. In the Legislative Council Mr J. Dnthie asked the M'm'ster of Internal Affairs whether, while- the vso of English words in the body of cables open to the censor may still be desirable, the use of registered cipher addresses established mercantile firms and companies might not now be permitted, and will the Government make representation thereon to the British authorities. The . Minister said the Government would take action and make representations to the Imperial Government. CURRENT WAR RISKS. Jn the House of Representatives, in reply to Mr A. M. Myers, the Premier said" he would ask the High Commissioner to cable particulars ;;f war risks being charged, and the information would be- published. STRANGLES IN CAMP. In reply to Mr Hunter, the Minister r.f Defence said an outbreak of strangles had occurred among troop horses at Aw-apuni. but the outbreak was a slight •one and every step was being taken to check it.