MAORIS AND CONSUMPTION.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14546, 24 December 1912, Page 2

MAORIS AND CONSUMPTION.

. ~* REMEDIAL MEASURES. At yesterday morning's meeting of the Hospital .Board the matter of consumption amongst Maoris was raised by the following letters: — Tiie Rev. C. A. Fraer, Tuahiwi, wrote on November 29th: — "As yon are aware tho Maori children or tho Kaiapoi l*a are at present being treated by the Health Department for consumption, whieii upon, recent medical examination was tound to bo rampant in our mitfst. I am approaching you to point out that owing to the migratory habits of tho Maoris the good work being done here will bo in danger of being jeopardised , unless the Maoris of the ueiynoouring kiangas are also treated in a similar manner. It is to be feared that tho other centres of Maori population—Little River, Akaroa, Port Levy, Kapaki, and Taumutu —are likewise fUrected. Over 50 percent, of the Kaiapoi children were tound to be affected. The Hospital Board will readily recognise that present preventive measures in this caso would bo much less costly than would the subsequent necessary treatment of the diseu»<e. Would the Board discuss the wisdom of further co-operation with tho Health Department ':" This letter was forwarded to tho In-spector-General of Hospitals, who oil December 9th wrote, saying:— "Sir, —It is tho intention of this Department to retain the services of n nurso among the Maoris in the district for special work. "I had hoped, before this, to bo able to explain to your Board, in person, the siisuestions of the Department with regard to the above, and I hope to have an opportunity of so doing at an early date, together with other suggestions relative to the campaign against tuberculosis. "The report of the recent Conference on tuberculosis has been signed br the various delegates, and is now in the hands of tho Government printer. I hope to be able to forward a cony in the course of the next fortnight.'*' A simultaneous telegram from I>r. Valintine said that the services of the nurse were to be available in any oart sf the district where they seemed,* in the opinion of the Board, to bo , required. The correspondence was received.