CARE OF MAORI CHILDREN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28936, 2 July 1959, Page 12

CARE OF MAORI CHILDREN

Scope For Plunket Society

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 1 Although some Maori families might live in one room, many of the children were well nourished and cared for, Dr. Alice Bush an Auckland pediatrician, told the consultative committee on pre-school health services today She said better health was often largely a matter of irrlproving the use made of the money going into the household. Sub-standard housing had a bearing on the health of these children. Many of the Maori women were good mothers, others needed instruction in the care of their children. Numbers of these babies brought for advice and treatment were found to be in a state of advanced malnutrition, and had reached this stage of early failure to thrive before anyone found it advisable to seek help. Of Maori children admitted to hospital in the second vear of life with a severe infection, many were found to have a marked degree of anaemia.

Dr. Bush said she would like to see Maori and Islander children under Plunket care, and the number of Plunket nurses increased. Numbers of Maori children were now brought to Plunket clinics and their mothers were free to do so.

Record Rock.— The biggest block of granite ever to have been cut in a mine has been cut at the Tisa quarry. Western Bohemia, the Czechoslovak news agency Ceteka, reported. It has* a volume of 180 cubic yards. An order for it had come from West Germany —Reuters.