"A HEALTHY RACE"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 116, 20 May 1925, Page 5

"A HEALTHY RACE"

THE SAMOAN PEOPLE

'FINE W6RK OF MEDICAL OFFICERS

In carrying out the policy of the New Zealand - Government to promote to the utmost the interests of the Samoan race, the Administration, during the past year, has concentrated its efforts upon three 'essentials, namely, health, education, and agricultural development, states General 'G. S. Richardson, Admihstrator of Samoa-, in a recent report.

Any advancement of the native's, he says, to a higher standard of prosperity can only be in proportion to the extent to which they respond to oiir efforts in these matters. The Samoaris are, however; fi. cbnserva'tive people, and do hot readily atiopt new ideas ■ therefore;- their progress must necessarily he slow,. There has, however, beeii a quick and Very marked improvement iii the health of the community, as a result til tlie work of the Medical Department. It-will lie some" years bef(ire the present efforts. b£ the Education Department are reflected by, aiiy great pi-ogress in agriculture oil tile paH of the iiatives,, wliich is oho of the main objects of the system of education now. established in the Government schools; ■

"From, my own observations," says General Richardson, "there is a very marked improvement iii the health of the natives, and a- conspicuous absence of the Unsightly cases of yaws, which as recently as two years ago was so prevalent. The infantile mortality is, however, still very high, arid will continue to Be sb\ as long ds the mothers treat sickiiessby their old Samoan customs, 'and continue to feed their iiifahts dri indigestible ta.ro. This.is a matter of such great importance to the future welfare of the face thai the .Chief Medical, Officer has formulated a- child welfare scheme wliich will be put into effect this year. The successful results already obtained in bile district by Dr. Roberts, ,who has given her. services voluntarily to educate and interest th'e p mothers in the bare and feeding of, their children, are proof of what can be. achieved in other districts if a sufficient number of trained nurses are ayaila.ble for. this important work. ."The,vital statistics for the past year are,also, an indication of improvement in. the health of the.native's; the natural increase for the year being the highest on record, ,viz., 1123, or 3.26 per cent, of the, total population. The Samoa* race can, therefore) be regarded as a healthy.and increasing one; with prospects ol doubling its .present numbers Y?%? c ihe^ *? !° r 50 years." The achieveme.iits of medical science in rescViiiVg native rapes Jtom the ravages of epidemics and in the. saving of infant life are clearly demonstrated in the niedica,l.J«P ort.s fro.™ Sarooa. which are also a testimony-to the wise administration of the New Zealand Government in so strongly supporting this branch of administrative work.