a.—sic

the health generally was as usual, except a number seemed to be suffering from colds and seasickness. He made no mention of being quarantined at Suva and Levuka, nor of the decision which was come to there by the Chief Health Officer, after consulting with the boarding officer and himself, as to the conditions in New Zealand on departure of the " Talune." The chief steward incidentally informed Captain Atkinson that they were not a/lowed ashore at Suva, but that " it was all right at Levuka." Under examination, Captain Atkinson, in connection with the steward's remark, stated that he considered the passengers and crew were not allowed ashore at Suva owing to there being " something wrong " in the port ; but as they had a clean bill of health from Levuka, and as the steward had informed him " it was all right " at that port, he concluded he was correct in his judgment. He therefore passed the ship, pratique was granted, passengers proceeded ashore, and the ordinary work of the ship was carried on. It did not seem to be quite understood at Apia that a " bill of health " referred only to the port of departure, and not to the passengers on the ship. In connection with this particular voyage, there are one or two striking points which we would respectfully bring before your notice :— 1. That, notwithstanding the fact that influenza had broken out in a serious form in New Zealand prior to the sailing of the " Talune " for Apia and. wayports, and was prevalent in Auckland, a clean bill of health was given to the ship, and no mention of this was made thereon. It is true influenza was not a notifiable disease at that particular time, but nevertheless we are of opinion that some mention should have been made of the above condition on the bill of health, especially as the " Talune " was bound for the islands. Medical men, at least, should have known the serious susceptibilities of a Native population to even minor diseases which, in the ordinary course, cause little or no mortality amongst Europeans. 2. That the fact that passengers and crew were quarantined at both Suva and Levuka was not mentioned by the captain of the ship to the Health Officer at Apia. 3. That, notwithstanding the fact that influenza in New Zealand became a notifiable disease by Proclamation dated Gth November, 1918, no information whatever, either from, the Health Department or the Defence Department, was radiographed to Samoa. 4. That at that particular time a number of New Zealand soldiers were on duty in Western Samoa. 5. That Captain Atkinson stated that had be known that influenza had become a " notifiable " disease in New Zealand, he would not have passed the ship. 0. That Captain Atkinson had no previous experience in connection with the duties of. Port Health Officer, nor had he received any instructions from the Principal Medical Officer on the matter. 7. That both the Principal Medical Officer, Surgeon-General Skerman, and Capta n Atkinson, on the 7th November, .1.918, were unaware of the existence of any local port regulations, nor had they made any inquiries regarding same. 8. That generally, as far as regulations governing the port are concerned— and .n this report we are anxious to deal only With matters inside the scope of our Commission —the utmost confusion reigned. One Department, carried, out the law as laid down by the Tripartite Government liegulations, 1891-1894 ; another, those brought into force by the Cerman Government; while the Principal Medical Officer considered he was working under New Zealand regulations. We append for Your Excellency's information the Tripartite Covernment's regulat.on setting forth the notifiable diseases at the port of Apia, and also the Cerman regulations on the same subject. We would draw your attention to the fact that, under Tripartite Covernment, influenza was a notifiable disease ; under German rale ft waß not - Section 8 oj Ordinance relative to Quarantine, issued by the Three-Power Government, 1891-1894. Section 8. The following shall be considered to be contagious or infectious diseases within th i meaning of this Ordinance: Cholera, scarlet fever, scarlatina, influenza, diphtheria, croup, typhoid lever, typhus lever, relapsing fever, yellow fever, dengue lever, measles, leprosy, and all other diseases which the Health Ollicer may deem to be dangerous to the public health.

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