The Press SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1947. The Chatham Islands

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25092, 25 January 1947, Page 6

The Press SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1947. The Chatham Islands

J It is regrettable that the Prime j Minister (Mr P. Fraser), the Minis- 1 ter of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. j Parry), and the member for Lyttel- . ton (Mr T. H. McCombs) were un- : able to take immediate advantage , of the opportunity to visit the Chat- ’ ham Islands and it is to be hoped ( that the visit will not long be postponed. The islands are for : purposes of administration a ; part of New Zealand (coming ( within Mr McCombs’s electorate); but the fact does not seem to be ' generally appreciated. Even the islanders themselves do not consider their territory a part of this country, though it is under the control of the New Zealand Government and shares in all its legislative enactments. The most recent reports of conditions in the islands are disturbing. They are, in fact, the most backward part of New Zealand’s territory; and the fact that they are a very small part does not mitigate that indictment. The present population of the Chathams is about 450, about 30 per cent, of the population having left them in the last decade. There is nothing else to account for this migration than the comparatively primitive conditions cn the islands and their remoteness from the mainland. A few months ago we printed a statement by Dr. G. T. Davies, who was at that time resident medical officer in the Chathams, which gave a disquieting picture of conditions there. Though these were the opinions of one man, they were those of a man who had exceptional opportunities for observing conditions on the spot and whose training and position enabled him to form expert opinions about the life and circumstances of the people. What he had to say about the health of the people and their living conditions was certainly sufficient to warrant a thorough investigation by Government authorities into all aspects of the life of the islanders. The position of the resident medical officer is itself an anomalous one. For reasons which would be difficult to explaih the Chathams, for medical purposes, are under the control of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, which is required to find the resident medical officer for the territory. The Hospital Board has been in constant difficulty in finding a medical • man prepared to isolate himself there for any considerable period, or for any period at all. Obviously, the person chosen must be i young, active-bodied, and enthusiastic. The only means of transport , for the doctor is horseback, he has inadequate facilities for the treatment of serious illness, and many of ! the conditions on the islands, particularly lack of sewerage and shortage of adequate housing, are a predisposing factor towards illhealth. Yet the medical service is at present carried on at very considerable expense under a system of t remote control by a local hospital ’ authority which cannot reasonably ’ be considered to have any community of interest with the islands. A cursory examination of the probt lem suggests that the possibility should be investigated of the State' ; Health Department taking over the . control of an area which is the responsibility not of one part of 1 New Zealand but the whole of it. . The Chatham Islands, properly administered, have a much greater ' contribution to make to the prosJ perity of the Dominion than they - do. They have very considerable 5 natural resources, which are obviously not being fully developed 1 and cannot be under present condij tions. Without the amenities of modern life, the islands have few i attractions for progressive young people, who desert them as soon as opportunity offers. This remote territory has, in fact, been thoroughly neglected, not only by the present Government but by past governments as well, though a start has been made recently with a • small roading scheme. If it is not to . fall into complete decay, a complete survey of its requirements . must be made; and the sooner it is made and action taken upon its findings the sooner will a serious blot on New Zealand’s public administration be removed.