Unfenced Hot Pools in Maori Pas

Horowhenua Chronicle, 30 June 1933, Page 3

Unfenced Hot Pools in Maori Pas

/ ; j.W CHILD SLIPS IN AND DIES. ROTOEUIa, Last Night. Strong comments regarding the danger of unfenced hot pools in Maori pas and the necessity for providing proper safeguards by fencing were made by the coroner, Mr. W. L. Richards, at an inquest to-day into the death of a three-year-old Maori child, Richard Skipwith, who died following a fall into! a hot pool at Ngapuna pa on June 20. In returning a verdict of death from shock as a result of scalds and suffoca-t tion, the coroner said lie bad visited the pool in question the morning after the fatality and it appeared to him to be a veritable death trap. It was usedi by natives for washing and he had been: informed that two other children had re* cently fallen into it, but fortunately*: had bfeen rescued in temperature ahd was •' very slippery] round the edges where the native women had been washing. ■ ' There was an obligation upon those living in pas to protect small children!] by fencing in these dangerous {KK)Is. He uras glad to say this particular tbol j had been fenced in since the tragedy.