Health of the Maoris

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 67, 2 March 1935, Page 6

Health of the Maoris

(To the Editor.) Sir, —There was a touch of pathos in the remarks ot Bishop Bennett as reported in Thursday’s issue ot your paper, ft is very lamentable to read that the Bishop can discern a depreciation among the Maori people resultant from the depression through which we are passing. He sees that fell disease ot tuberculosis spreading and increasing owing, as lie says, to the lack ot proper food and clothing throuj.li the rigours ot the winter months. Aly mind was given to deep serious thought as 1 read these sincere sentences ol this man of God. And this is m God's own country, washed by the blue Pacific, enjoying one of the most perfect climates ol the world. What a travesty that these brothers and sisters ol ours should sink into poverty, wretchedness and premature death lor the want ot proper food and clothing through the workless winters of these difficult days. If it were a land pervaded with famine one could understand, but lor men and women to die lor want of nourishment in a land ol plenty. These happy, law-abiding, generous-hearted people who are splendid workers under encouragement and guidance. These people who shear the sheep which have grazed on the rich pastures which were once, their very own. These folk who sort and bale and pack our wool off to the ports to be changed for gold and commerce and then go hack to their pas to suffer silently and uncomplaining. To handle the wool and send it out ot the country and return to blanketless beds and foodless homes. Surely something is wrong in our administration lor the Bishop to have to make such a plea in a land of plenty. We still seem to be living in a time and place “where wealth accumulates and men decay.’’ Tho Alaori people, as the Bishop remarked, are silent sufferers. They do not clamour lor gifts of charity, clothing or desire soup kitchens. These things are only palliatives and leave a man to-morrow even as he is to-di.y, only minus his independence. All they want is helpful guidance, careful administration and the opportunity to work out their own destiny. They have the right at least to the common amenities of daily life in the land of their lathers. We have entered into the splendid inheritance of their broad acres. It is up to us as a British people to see that not one of them shall suffer deprivation, distress and disease. Sir, as 1 read the appeal ol Bishop Bennett I felt that the cry of our Alaori people rises up to us as a slur on our vaunted Christian civilisation. Hood truly sang:— My God that bread should be so dear And flesh and blood so cheap. —Yours, etc., RALPH EWART BARLEY. Hastings, March 1.