LIFE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25345, 19 November 1947, Page 2

LIFE IN SOUTH AFRICA

INDIANS SAID TO BE A PROBLEM “The Indians in South Africa are very hard to work with,” said Miss M. Arnoldi, who was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Christchurch branch of the Registered Nurses’ Association last evening. Miss Arnoldi is the Senior Health visitor for the Transvaal Health Department. “The pure Indian is not so bad. but many of them are a mixture of European, native and Indian,” she continued. “They are creating a problem in Durban. It is difficult to get them to send their children to school, and as far as health is concerned they are a menace.” The natives were very interesting people, but very barbaric. Miss Arnoldi said. They tried to copy Europeans in their dress, but they were not very successful. “They are much better in the raw state,” she added. It was very hard to teach the natives hygiene. Many of the children suffered not only from malnutrition, but from starvation. “Venereal disease is rampant in South Africa,” the speaker continued. “Unfortunately the hush hush policy is still adopted. Until we can get legislation to help us to bring this problem to the surface it will go on increasing.” Tuberculosis was not very serious and chest complaints were not as prevalent as in New Zealand, Miss Arnojdi said. The training of European nurses in South Africa was very similar to the New Zealand training, and the general course took four years. Miss Arnoldi said. Native girls wishing to become nurses had to be taught hygiene and the European way of thinking, before they could be trained as nurses. “Often they pass their examinations with honours, but they are not such good practical nurses. They will probably improve in this as time goes on. Members of the Bantu nurses’ organisation are free to come to our meetings. That is a great step forward. We are trying to overcome the colour bar. but because it is innate it is a very difficult thing to do, and I do not think it will be overcome in this generation.”