Australian maritime quarantine and the evolution of international agreements concerning quarantine.

  • Cumpston, J. H. L. (John Howard Lidgett), 1880-1954.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Australian maritime quarantine and the evolution of international agreements concerning quarantine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    The principle of surveillance was not adopted, but, as was the practice adopted by the French Government, taking advantage of the discretion allowed by the Venice Convention, observation was substituted for surveillance. The precautions taken against rats and the measures for destruction of rats on board were much in advance of the provisions of the Venice Convention. Fourth Conference, 1904.—The previous Conferences, which had had as their object the creation of uniformity in the measures adopted by the different States, had resulted in a much better understanding between the various health officials and also in considerable progress toward uniformity in the application of quarantine measures, but no common legislation and no binding agreement had been concluded between the States. With the Federation of the Australian States into a Commonwealth in 1901, a new legislative condition had been created, and amongst the matters upon which the Commonwealth Parliament was, by the Constitution, authorized to legislate for, was quarantine. Accordingly in 1904 the Prime Minister of Australia summoned a Conference of the principal health officials in the various States, The principal object of this Conference was expressed in the Prime Minister's letter as follows: — The Conference will be asked to submit for consideration suggestions as to the provisions to be introduced into a Bill dealing with the question, and also as to the taking over of the administration of the quarantine laws from the several States. This Conference drew up a number of recommendations, most of which were subsequently embodied in the Quarantine Act 1908 —now in operation. The Quarantine Act for the Common- wealth of Australia was assented to on March 30, 1908, and came into force on July 1, 1909, and by this Act the aims of Australian Sanitarians, begun in 1884, were achieved. It was found necessary, however, before the transfer of admini- stration from the State Governments to the Commonwealth Government was actuallv made, that the officials of the various Governments concerned should meet to discuss certain important details. Fifth Conference, 1909.—The Fifth Conference, 1909, was accord- ingly held and the draft regulations were discussed, various details of practical administration being laid down. Throughout the Fourth and Fifth Conferences, and naturally also in the Commonwealth Quarantine Act and regulations, measures directed against small-pox take a prominent place, though the proximity of the Asiatic endemic centres of plague and cholera, and the dangrer threatening Australia from these sources, is also fully recognised. COMPARISON BETWEEN AUSTRALIAN QUARANTINE CODE AND OTHER CONVENTIONS. It is necessary in the first place to understand what is meant by quarantine, as the word is used in Australia. The term was defined by the First Conference (1884) as follows: — By Quarantine, this Conference understands such measures taken in regard to vessels coming to the various Australian ports as will effectually protect the Australian Colonies from