A returned soldier in a motorcycle sidecar taking food to patients during the 1918 influenza epidemic
A returned soldier in a motorcycle sidecar taking food to patients during the 1918 influenza epidemic
[1918]
"An epidemic of influenza has been raging throughout New Zealand for several weeks. It is of a particularly virulent character and a very large number of deaths have been caused by it. The combatting of the epidemic has been rigorously undertaken in the towns and all classes have furnished devoted workers. In Christchurch a large committee was formed, and soon women possessed of any ablity for nursing were organised, and sent wherever they were most needed. Men called at every house in the district to see whether help was needed, and by this method hundreds of cases needing help were discovered. A public dispensary for the issue of the Government standard medicine was established in Cathedral Square, and Nurse Maude had charge of the central distribution of all help. All Church organisations were utilised, and later sub-stations were formed, which dealt with cases in their own vicinity and relieved Nurse Maude's overworked central station. The Canterbury Automobile Association rallied nobly with cars and motor-cycles which are kept busy carrying nurses, helpers, messengers and food and medicine for invalids. Public inhalation chambers were established by the City Council, by the Government in the Government Buildings, by the Christchurch Gas Company in their premises, and many by the Christchurch Tramway Board, and most of the larger firms instituted inhalation sprays for their employees. The schools having been closed, the Boy Scouts' organisation was promptly utilised, and the Scouts are doing great work as messengers and food carriers. The Plunket Society took charge of infants, and the Kindergarten Association of other children, and Sydenham Park is utilised as a children's playground, the kiddies being provided with meals and games. As the cases came forward the resources of the hospital were strained, doctors and nurses going down before the disease. The Royal Hotel was acquired and used as an auxiliary hospital, and the buildings of the Metropolitan Trotting Club as a convalescent hospital. The feeding of so many sick people speedily became a great problem, but this was solved by the establishment of kitchens for invalid cookery in the City Council electrical rooms, the Christchurch Gas Company's premises, and in several of the secondary schools, and from these the depots were supplied. The people of Christchurch have risen to the occasion, and there has been little lack of assistants, and generous help has been given to the kitchens. What has been done in Christchurch is typical of what has been done all over the Dominion."
File Reference CCL PhotoCD 6, IMG0093
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