CARE OF HEALTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 111, 6 November 1937, Page 15

CARE OF HEALTH

MAORI PEOPLE

SANITATION AND HOUSING

A plea for better housing, water supply, and sanitation for the Maoris was made in, the House of Representatives yesterday by Sir Apirana Ngata (Eastern Maori) during the discussion on the Estimates for the Health Department. "In the bad old days I was told there was no money for this and that," he said. "The usual thing was to pass the ball between the Native Department and the- Health Department. If I wanted water it, was the Health Department'

Mr. K. J. Holyoake (National, Motuekcp: That was passing the buck.

Sir Apirana said water and sanitation would go a long way towards solving the Maori health problem. The inauguration of Native development schemes had helped the Maoris ber cause water supply and sanitation were provided, and Natives who were not under the schemes were envious of those who were. With ah improved water supply there would be less typhoid' and. other disease. "This proble should have been tackled long ago," added Sir Apiraha. "I have grown old and grey during the years I have, been urging on the Governments of the. day the necessity of doing something in this direction." '. ACTIVITY IN HOUSING. Sir Apirana said he would like. to see greater activity in the direction of housing the Maoris. With better living accommodation there would be less disease. For the housing, of-Maoris in poor circumstances a sum of money should be set aside for a reserve fund to. meet any possible losses that might be made on advances made for building homes. , • ••-;" In reply, the Minister of Health (the Hon. P. Fraser) said'that a start had been made with ..' the housing scheme for the. Maoris and it was proposed to extend the plan throughout New Zealand. . Particular attention was being given to the North Auckland district where economic factors arising from the state of the gum Industry had to be-taken into consideration.- Upon' the clarification of .this question would depend the rate.of progress in housing in that .part of the country. _ • ;

Mr. Fraser added that his Department was fully alive to the necessity of maintaining a preventive campaign against tuberculosis. \Such a campaign was eminently preferable to a curative policy. Science had shown that tuberculosis could be prevented, and the Government intended to carry on until the disease had been defeated. This could be done' and there was no method known'to medical science that would not be adopted by the Government in its efforts to put an end to the disease. •

"The history of tuberculosis among the Maori people is deplorable and shocking," said the* Minister. "It is a reflection on our country and it is a reflection that has to be removed."

Referring to water supply and drainage, the Minister said whenever a practical scheme of improvement was submitted to his Department it would rbe'examined, and if it showed possibilities of: being successful, it would be put into operation. Money would be available for any system of drainage or water supply that complied with the needs of the community concerned and had the assurance of success.