HEALTH REPORT OF TAUPO NATIVES

Evening Star, Issue 4897, 11 November 1878, Page 3

HEALTH REPORT OF TAUPO NATIVES

Among the papers presented to Parliament during the session just concluded was one on the sanitary condition of the Natives in the Taupo district of the North bland, by Mr Samuel- Walker, surgeon, A.C., Medical Attendant to Natives. The report is short, and chiefly valuable through throwing some little light upon the domestic and social condition of the Native races in that district. Unlike many of our fellow colonists, they do not appear addicted to amateur physicing. At least we infer not, because Mr Walker tells us they "manage to cornea long distance when medical aid is required," and which, when rendered, varies in treatment from " a dose of salts up to months of consecutive medication," apart from surgical cases, the consequence of broken bones or dislocations. The doctor is fond of long words, which sometimes, however, he conde- ■<*"** to explain, as in the following extract;-* I hare visited many at their settlements, and a practice among them of many yean confirms my early impxessiou that not many die from disease per se, but that the majority of deaths occur through insufficient and improper alimentation—in other words, the want of proper food, a process of slow starvation, is the chief cause In this district, at any rate, of this mortality.

It would seem that Maoris differ from Europeans in what the doctor calls their ! *' economy." Our readersjnust not imagine that this term relates to, money matters or ' housekeeping: he means by it their bodies, which, according to his report, are affected ' by drugß which " fail to affect the white man to any extent." Fractures, cute, and other ''solutions of continuity" (whatever that may mean) heal rapidly; but the doctor is not satisfied with these developments of Maori economy, for he thinks if they lived on better food than "the potato" he would be able "to congratulate " himself on the treatment of his patients. Possibly the better food would render them less sensible to the influence of the drugs that now so easily affect them, and the doctor might then fail to congratulate himself on his curative skill. Who knows ? But if the doctor is' satisfied, his patients are not. When sick they often " crave for pakeha food;" but, says the doctor, "if supplied with it the cook and cooking utensils mußt be given him as well." This is a curious comment on the old adage." God sends food, butthed—lsendscooks." Wethinkinstead of the blessing of a vote, the Premier would do much more good by introducing among the Maori tribes reform in their modes of living, for we are informed, "with the use of his own food the Native suffers from a persistent, anortxia, which cannot be matter for surprise when it is considered what that food is." We are not inclined to give the Natives credit for more refinement than our Irish fellow subjects, who, for too many years we grant, lived mainly on the potato, without, as far as we know, being afflicted with "apersistent anorexia." We wonder how. many members of the House of Bepresentatives or the Legislative Council knew what that word meant when they read it. It id a pity that plain English cannot be written for Englishmen, and that the doctor could not simply say "they loathed their food." It seems, however, that the eggs and milk and butter-milk with which the Irish potato was varied or mixed is altogether wanting in Maoridora. Since the Maoris gave up cooking each other they have had nothing but potatoes to cook. Tbi Natives of Taupo, as elsewher\ have not the ■lightest knowledge how to supply their bodily wants rto wnellorate their Worldly condition. It is worthy notice the number of horses they possess, and what few cattle. A person might ride all through this dl* trict, calling at each settlement, without being able to procure a. draugbf of milk. To show of what value {bis llfesustouflng fluid, might be to the Maori, ttvo following case win prove :—Fwas sent for to attend a Hrt*re. womaa wbo-wa* dangerously. 11l in child-bed (which is rare). She gave birth to a strung healthy obild. The mother, had. .no milk. Four days alter--wards.l heard the child .was dead. They had nothing, tfel JV^/ '% Bfr 2"L instead of Nature's food; they WMo>nf*m Wltus omjUuttaHn the ecotiomy of food cwmot be overcetWOWdV&n&tt Hatlyes.oj this country are not awtfftf fljfajafc-, vo jr

No wonder that a great number of cases "result fatally by slow asthenia from inaniturn" In plain English, they slowly starve to death.

The doctor's report gives no coloring to the idea that European vices have taken root amongst them. Intoxication is not common; the diseases from which they suffer are induced by sloth, filth, and ignorance. Doctor Walker ventures on a Darwinian prophecy as to the mixed races of the future, which we may at any venture to doubt—especially if those enemies to human development are not speedily removed. Half-castes are rapidly increasing in number throughout the district, and one cannot help being struck with their superiority in physique over either of the parent races. As yet they do not equal the white man in intellect, but in after {fenerations mental str ingth will be the outcome of physical strength ; so it is within the bounds of reason to suppose that those "pakelu waifs" who are deemed social pariahs hi consequence of having formed matrimonial alliances with Maorldom may be yet an advantogo to posterity. We trust the unpleasant picture drawn by Dr Walker of Maori life and Maori living relates only to a limited district. It is not creditable to us that some 35,000 or 40,000 human beings should be dwelling side by side with us so unimproved as they are in social and moral habits. We have taught them to put aside evil customs, but we have not instructed them in good ones. We have yet to utilise this vast amount of ill-directed capacity for profitable labor. They have land and grow potatoes, but they live in " dirty whares, without chimneys j" their clothing is "insufficient." In fact, they are living in "total disregard of the most essential laws of sanitation." Anglke: " they do not take the least care of their health "—(how should they when they know no better?)—and they have succeeded, in spite of this very healthy climate, " in establishing scrofulous diathesis, which manifests itself in many forms of disease." ! That is to say, their nasty habits have induced a condition of body that shows itself in scrofulous complaints, which have become or will become hereditary. These ignorant beings are the Premier's pets, and as a panacea for their evil surroundings he would give them the dual vote. We think he and all of us have a noble work committed to us worth every effort of well-directed philanthropy. It seems strange that islanders should be oaught, kidnapped, and made to work in Fiji and Queensland, while owners of the soil in New Zealand cannot be taught how to satisfy their longings after a better and nobler style of living. He who could succeed in introducing improved modes of living among the Maoris would benefit himself, them, and the country.