MINISTER'S TRIBUTE TO DR. D. COOK

Northern Advocate, 12 January 1938, Page 6

MINISTER'S TRIBUTE TO DR. D. COOK

A tribute to the organising ability and the enthusiasm of the Medical Officer for Health for Northland, Dr. D. Cook, in his work for the Maoris of Northland, was paid by the Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Health, who has just completed a tour of all the more important native centres in the North. l ’l was greatly impressed with the health work generally being carried out in the North,” Mr Fraser said. “I was particularly struck with the work being done by the native nurses and health inspectors, and the devotion to duty and care with which they carry on their work.”

Mr Fraser intimated that he hoped to increase the number of nurses in the district in the near future, in order to lighten the burden on the shoulders of the present nurses.

The purpose of Mr Fraser’s visit to Northland v;as to acquaint himself with the conditions of the Maori people as a whole. He also made inquiries as to native housing, water supply and land settlement.

No Better Work Elsewhere, He said that there was no better work being done in the Dominion than among the Maoris of Northland. On the whole, the living conditions of the Maoris had materially improved and he attributed this partly to the excellent work of the Native Women’s Institutes. The outlook for native land settlement was also most hopeful. While In Kaikohe bn Saturday, Mr Fraser met leaders of the native race and also paid an unofficial visit to the Native School, being conducted by Mr Piripi Pou, chairman of the committee. At Rawene he met members of the Hokianga Hospital Board.