The Garden Island. [volume] (Lihue, Kauai, H.T.) 1902-current, 1920-03-30
WHAT KAPAA
THINKS ABOUT It

Since the comments relative to the
closing of the Kapaa school and the
atres were printed last week, addition
ii information has come to hand
which, on the face of it, would make
this closing justified. This justifica-
ton however, does not alter the fact
that the Dcard OF health. which works
in cooperation with the board of edu.
cation in matters pertaining to the
health of the school children is pur-
suing two entirely separate policies in
regard to the closing of schools and
theatres.
1t is reported in the Honolulu papers
that Kauai had 6000 cases of flu to
Honolulu's 5000. Several people, who
certainly ought to know, however, stat.
ed last week that the 5000 cases re-
ported in Honolulu is gross mis-.
representation, and suggested that
10000 and not 5000 would be nearer
the number of actual cases. The reas-
on for this difference is laid to the fact
that large majority of the cases in
Honolulu are not reported, as every
ole there who consults a physician
will get a bill from his, or her, doctor.
In all the plantations on Kauai, as we'll
as on the other Islands, the mass of
the people are given free medical at
tention by their employers, and there
fore do not hesitate to report every
slight attack of flu, real or imaginary.
The local figures therefore are practi-
cally correct, whereas the figures for
Honolulu are way off the mark.
The discussion now leads up to the
question of the two policies of the
board of health. If the board of health
is of the opinion that the closing of
the schools and theatres in all the in
fected districts on Kauai tends to
check the spread of the disease, why
does it allow Honolulu schools and
theatres to remain open when there
are proportionately as many cases
there as on Kauai? Is it because the
Kauai representatives of the board of
health looked at the situation from one
angle, while their superiors in Honolu-
lu held opposite views? THIS is hardly
so, as persons familiar with the poll
cies of the board state that local
agents are not given power to close or
open schools and theatres without in
structions from Honolulu. Or is it be-
cause, as some people have intimated,
of some influence that was brought to
bear by the large interests in Honolulu
which would be affected if the lid were
put on against amusements and large
gatherings, which would naturally in
clude the Centennial about to be held
next month?
In any event, the fact remains that
the closing of the schools and theatres
has been, in way, justified, but one
cannot help but wonder why the board
of Health seems to take the stand that
the Kauai flu situation warranted the
closing while the Honolulu situation
did not.
Kapda KorespOndem
In Interviewing DR.. Patterson yester-
day about the flu situation, he was
asked whether he, as the local repre-
sentative of the board OF health, had
any information relative to the opening
of the theatres. His answer was that
the report had been published
thai he was sent here by the board of
health the latter had nothing to do
whatever with his coming to Kealia, as
he was requested to come by Mr.. G. p.
Wilcox in the interests of American
Factors, Lid, only He therefore has
nothing TO do with the closing or open
ing of the schools and theatres, as that
matter rests entirely with the board OF
health or it's official representative.
-:~:
One of the saddest features of
the present flu epidemic has been