INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVII, Issue 5646, 19 June 1919, Page 3

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

NIAGARA PARTLY THE CAUSE

DISREGARDED WARNING. STRICTURES ON HEALTH DEPARTMENT. TRIBUTE TO HOSPITAL BOARDS. THE COMMISSION’S REPORT. (By Tele graph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Una day. The Influenza Commission’s report lias boon published. It is a. lengthy I document. The main recommendations ■ire Amendments in the health laws ; I appointment of a Chief Sanitary Inspector tor the Dominion ; definition and publication of the' powers, duties, etc., oi health officers; greater attention to the hygiene of public schools and the teaching of first aid; a general rearrangement of the health districts, with advisory committees; constant inspection of ships and wharves; provision for adequate housing accommodation.

The Commission praises the devotion of doctors, nurses, police, and helpers during the epidemic. It discusses the part played by the. Niagara at length, laying stress on the re.ee pt of a wireless message from the steamer advising that Spanish (influenza was on board, and that the cases were increasing daily. The Commission's findings on this head are that the infective element of the epidemic was conveyed by sea, and that the extension was largely the result of a disregard of precautionary measures in the early stages, want of knowledge, and spread of the disease by congregations of people at the armistice celebrations, races, and Carnival Week at Christchurch; that there is a strong presumption that a substantial factor in the introduction of the disease was ! the arrival of the Niagara on October ]2th; that the evidence proves that the official action over the release of Lhc Niagara showed either non-recognition or disregard of lhc gravity of the' position as described by the wireless nressfige of October 11th. The next section deals with the Health Department’s administration during the epidemic, and finds # somc faults in it. The Department, was understaffed. r l he Commission considers that the Hospital Boards were more awake than the Department. The Commission considers that the medical staff showed a want of judgment in assuming that the epidemic in its early stages was simple influenza.

THE COMMENTS ON HEALTH DEPARTMENT. MINISTER’S REPLY. STRICTURES ON COMMISSION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Accompanying tho Commission’s report is a long memo, by the Hon, \V. u. Russell, Minister of Health, who states that the delay in the publication was caused by his referring the report Lack to the Governor-General because of an ! ‘absolutely incorrect reference to tho evidence given by me.” The rcpo.t said that the Minister had stated in his evidence that ho was warned in September to prepare :or the epidemic. He cpiotcs two passages from his evidence to the contrary. He says lie was not going to allow misstatmonts to get the ■proverb'al 24 hours’ start, and the Commissioners were directed to cither justify their assertion or correct it } and they excised it.

Mr Russell then goes on: “I regret to bo compelled to challenge the fairness o', the Commission, particularly its chairman.” Ho objects to u refusal to allow him to quote Auckland papers o show the existence of a viiuleut form of influenza at the Niagara’s arrival, and ho points out that the Commission was not bound by the usual forms of , cudence, and did admit similar evidence , Com other sources, lie then quotes at length evidence which lie wished to ad- , ducc, and traverses the finding of the Commission regarding thc Niagara’s influence on the epidemic. 1 As to the captain’s wireless message, Mr Russell says that the mention o: Spanish influenza meant nothing m particular, as it .is not a scientific term. The Minister absolutely challenges the Commission.'s remarks on hift non-recog-nition of the captain’s message, on the grounds that full information ni this wireless and direckons to report were i sent to the Health Officer at Auckland. | Mt Russell wants to know why the C'omj mssion has nothing to say about quarantime stations not being available, 01 about the exertions of the ..Health Department in tackling the epidemic. He scoffs at the time occupied in. preparing the report, and concludes by saying that bis suggestion for reorganisation oi the Health Dcparment and many other Suggestions have been coolly appropi od by the Commission as their own, while they have departed from the settled programme of the Department as laid bolero them in evidence. ‘ihey have,” be says, “floundered into a hopeless morass of impossibility.” j BONUS TO CAMP HKBPMRR. 1 (Special to the Daily Telegraph ) ! AUCRIAND. this day. In recognition of their sl.onnous woik during the influenza epidemic in camp last November and December, sohl-ers I who acted as medical orderlies during that period are receiving warrants lor ‘J.s 6d a day from the Defence Department as epidemic pay.