H.—3la.

8

Hospital, as surgeon of the " Remuera," which carried a large number of troops to Liverpool. He put some cases in the Social Hall, with air going freely through, and the others he treated on deck by the open-air treatment, and he had. no deaths at all. A further instance was that of a similar experience by Dr. Moore, surgeon of another troopship. Good results were reported to us as to outdoor treatment in Timaru Hospital. All these instances suggest the importance, where possible, of at least testing the open-air treatment, with shelter from wind and rain. The necessity of open windows and the freest ventilation is as generally realized as it is habitually ignored. h\ this connection the importance of the avoidance of crowds or any unnecessary aggregation of groups of individuals must be fully impressed upon all. The packed crowds of the " Carnival Week "in Christchurch, made up of visitors from all parts of the Dominion, and the premature Armistice rejoicings were largely responsible for the extraordinarily rapid spread of the epidemic. Quarantine. The general question of quarantine is not one that the Commission considers can be fully dealt with in an interim report. By recent issuing of departmental instructions and providing regulations the Minister is taking steps to avert immediate danger from intercolonial and oversea ships arriving in New Zealand. Part 111 of the Public Health Act, 1908, deals with the matter of quarantine, and the powers vested in the Governor and the Minister give absolute control in respect to quarantining of ships arriving from an " infected place," or that took on board passengers or goods from an infected place, or on which an infectious disease broke out, or which communicates with any other ship as aforesaid. By section 115 the Governor may, by Proclamation, notify that any place in or beyond New Zealand is an " infected place " for the purpose of the Act. By subsection (c), section 120, the Governor or the Minister may determine the time of the quarantine to be performed by any ships, or persons, or goods, and the absolute or conditional releasing of them or any of them. Considering the subject of quarantine as a means of preventing or dealing with the epidemic of influenza, it must be evident that, as the disease is highly infectious and spreads very rapidly in a community chiefly by personal contact, every reasonable precaution should be taken by the Health authorities in the direction of enforcing — (1.) The strictest examination of all ships, passengers, and goods arriving from infected places. (2.) The placing of all ships, passengers, and goods in quarantine which are liable under the provisions of the Public Health Act, 1908. (3.) Such medical treatment as may be necessary of all persons placed in quarantine, and their release from quarantine only on the certificate of an authorized Medical Officer. (4.) The fumigation of all goods to be discharged from any infected ship. (5.) Special attention to the health conditions of all ships' crews and passengers arriving at New Zealand ports, and similarly to ships engaged in our coastal trade. As further precautionary measures the Commission counsels that all convalescents and contacts in quarantine should be released only on terms of their reporting and submitting themselves to the examination of a Health Officer until he certifies that all danger is past. The District Health Officers should at once be given whatever assistance is necessary to have the work herein referred to fully carried out. Provision should at once be made for improved accommodation, equipment, supplies of stores, and extra services at the quarantine-stations, particularly of Auckland and Wellington. The question of the efficiency of the existing stations at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers is many-sided and must be deferred for consideration in our main report, but we urge that there is need for temporary improvement, which would not interfere with any general plan adopted later on. From all the evidence and knowledge we can gather upon the subject it does not appear that we can look for absolute immunity as the result of strict'quarantin-