HEALTH OF NATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 11, 13 July 1931, Page 11

HEALTH OF NATIVES

A FORBIDDEN TANGI

FINE BY MAORI COUNCIL

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evenina Post.") AUCKLAND ,This Day. The, fact that Maori councils are taking an active interest" in matters pertaining'to the ' health of Natives in their districts was emphasised in proceedings in tho Magistrate's Court at To Xuiti, when tho Muniapoto Maori Council, To Kuiti, tool' action for the recovery of a line imposed upon a Native woman, Tarata Rewi Tana, for holding a hui or gathering under unsuitable conditions.

It was stated that the defendant and others had previously" been warned that no meetings were te» bo held in a certain pa because of tho unsatisfactory conditions prevailing, but the warning was disregarded, and the defendant incited somo Maoris to gather for the purposes of a tangi. As a result of action by tho Inspector of Health,' the defendant was brought before the council and fined £10. Tho present case was tho result of an application for a'rehearing before a Magistrate. Officers of the Maori Council, in giving evidence, stated that the case was a serious one, and it was hoped that the fine would act as a deterrent to others who might be tempted to hold gatherings in premises for which no (permission had been obtained. i In the course of evidence it was stated that the good work of the council was in evidence at the local pa, where all buildings and sanitary arrangements were excellent.

The Magistrate' upheld the fine imposed by the council.