HEALTH OF THE MAORI

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 103, 28 October 1939, Page 6

HEALTH OF THE MAORI

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—As one whose work brings him into close contact with the Maori people, lam glad to see.the Wanganui Hospital Board making'"a definite plea for special sanatoria, for the Maori people. I am sure their proposal will' have the support: of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, in whose district conditions are equally grave. To make the general public realise how grave they are, let me state thatwithin the narrow limits of the district between Poroutawhao and Otaki during the past eight weeks nine Maoris have been buried, seven of whom I know for certain died from tuberculosis; of the other two, one I knew, arid although ; I cannot speak with the sariie certainty of' his case, I suspect it wis tuberculosis there also. The pity of it is that all these, . with the exception of two of middle age, were young, between th»-ages of !27 and 17. The gravity of the situation 1 has often been stated statistically, but to stand by and watch these young people coughing and gasping for breath, their, bodies fleshless and emaciated, brings the tragedy home to one in a way statistics never; could. It is because there are no witnesses of the final mortal, agony of these young lives, except their Maori relations, that people remain apathetic to the shocking facts bf the situation. The splendid Maori physique is rapidly being vitiated by tuberculosis, and the Maori race, although . increasing numerically and retaining its fine stature, is rapidly becoming a C 3 grade people, with a tremendous percentage of actual or potential T.B. victims. Families have 'been wiped out. tribes thinned, and but for high birth-rate, the race would be a very small one today. For the remainder I put forward, with all humility, a few. suggestions that have occurred to me from my experience among the Maori people. The policy in regard to the Maori health has not been sufficient preventive. Housing conditions are still tolerated in which healthy living is an impossibility, and one hears very little now about the comprehensive housing scheme for the poorer class of Maori people of which, there was much talk not so very long ago. Until proper living conditions are established, evidently we are only toying with the problem. Secondly, it seeing to me that mare could be done in helping Maori children against this dise?--;e by regular examination and by a -tvice. Special Maori sanatoria would be a great help. Older Maori people dr'.c-t the ordinary hospital'or sanatorium, and having to go to these places very often hastens their death. Even the younger people have a deep-seated prejudice against them. So many die in hospital that often Maoris feel that in going into a hospital they are going to their doom. A special sanatorium would be of decided advantage in giving conditions more suitable to Maori habits, and in* easing the pressure on the existing institutions.

These are a few of the more obvious suggestions that occur to me. I know the situation is fraught with the greatest difficulties, and I have the greatst respect for the work that is being done by district nurses, health officers, and the sanatorium staffs.

My intention, therefore, in writing this letter is to embarrass no one, but to waken tbe public to the seriousness of this problem among the Maori people at the present time. The war will necessarily curtail many Government activities. I sincerely hope that in this matter there will be no curtailment. The Maori race versus tuberculosis is a war that is always on, and is a much greater issue for them than the European conflict.—l am, etc., A MISSIONER. Otaki, October 26,

A remand until November 1 was granted by Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today in the case of Horace Reginald Harry Emmerson, aged 32, a cleaner, who is charged with breaking and entering the shop of G. F. Harrison in Featherston Street with intent to commit theft. Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle said that Emmerson Avas arrested yesterday by Detectives P. Smeaton and H. Alty.