MAORI CHILD’S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 4

MAORI CHILD’S DEATH

Warning by Coroner About Neglect Dominion Special Service. Tauranga, June 10.. Au intimation that in future he would recommend the prosecution of those responsible in cases where Maori children died as the result of neglect during ill-health was given by Mr. A. F. Tunks, coroner, at the conclusion of an inquest to-day into the death of a Native schoolgirl named Kato Putipnti Ngatai, nine years old, who died at Maungatapu on Saturday last after an illness of several days.

Evidence was given by Riwa Ririnui, an aunt of the deceased girl, who stated that the child came home on Monday evening, June 1, was taken ill that night, and-died on the following Saturday morning." Dr. T. Stuart gave it as his opinion that the child died of gastric influenza. Pearl Ngatai, teacher at the Maungatapu School, said that she was told on Wednesday that the child was improving and no message was sent either for the district nurse or a doctor. The coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, and added a rider to the effect that in his opinion the child’s life would have been saved had the proper course been adopted of calling in the district nurse, who in her turn would, if she found the circumstances warranted it, have notified the medical superintendent of the hospital. In future cases of neglect of the kind indicated he would recommend the prosecution of the persons responsible.