Threat Of Jail
p. 15 · Read in the full issue
Quarantine Difficulty in W.
Samoa
From Our Own Correspondent APIA. June 16.
T!HE strict quarantine restrictions im posed have led to another difficult situation.
The manager of the Union Steamship Co. here, Mr. W. O. Fry, accompanied by his wife, went aboard the “Matua” for dinner, as is customary when the ship is in port. He was arrested and placed in quarantine for two days; and he now faces a prosecution, with a possibility of severe punishment.
Some time ago, a Samoan NMP and a Samoan nurse were prosecuted for a breach of quarantine, and were sent to jail; and the Chief Judge then announced that he would impose a similar sentence on any other person breaking the regula tions.
Mr. and Mrs. Fry, naturally, are very resentful of the action that has been taken against them. They, and many others, regard the regulations as farcical. None theless, all classes are watching the case with interest because, obviously, it will be difficult for the authorities to make any distinction between these people and others who have been punished for a similar offence.
T There have been hundreds of cases of poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) in New Zealand in recent months, and the epidemic persists there in a remarkable and mysterious way.'- Quarantine regula tions between NZ and the South Pacific ports have been re-imposed and policed.
But, as there seems to b 6 no evidence that poliomyelitis is liable to spread from a cold country to a tropical country, the regulations are not favourablv regarded by many people, and are much honouied in the breach.