MAORI CHILDREN'S HEALTH

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 144, 14 December 1935, Page 10

MAORI CHILDREN'S HEALTH

During the lean years of the depression the Maoris have suffered as much as anybody, but their plight has for the most part escaped publicity.- With the higher birth-rate among the Maoris the children have come in for more than a normal share in the distress and the state of their health has caused some concern to the Health Department. This was the subject of special reference by the Minister of Health (Mr. P. Fraser) in his first public address in that capacity at the annual meeting of the Dominion Council of the New Zealand Red Cross Society. Mr. Fraser said that he was satisfied, after a preliminary conversation with the Director-General of Health (Dr. Watt) that if Native children were to have a proper chance in life the problem of the prevention and cure of diseases would demand a great deal of thought. The Red Cross was doing valuable work already, and the problem would receive the early attention of the Government, which would be very glad to help. The care of the Maori race is one of the recognised responsibilities of the white people of New Zealand, under the Treaty of Waitangi, and a particular responsibility attaches to the care of the rising generation. A great deal can be done by continuing the work of the late Sir Maui Pomare in the direction ..of child welfare among the

Maoris. There is a feeling that this has been somewhat neglected of recent years, and Mr. Fraser's assurance of attention to the needs of the Maori children is timely and welcome.