ILLNESS AMONG MAORIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18173, 19 August 1922, Page 10

ILLNESS AMONG MAORIS.

COST 10F TREATMENTS POSITION AT TAUR'ANGA. [BT IM.waUPH.-OWN COBRESPONDENT.] tTAUBANGA. Friday. The question of the medicd treatment of native gave rise to a M> * tto meeting of the Hospital Board this week. S. Frengley, Deputy Director-General of Health, wrote as follows:-! shall to glad if you would let me know approximately the cost to your board, if any, of the outdoor medical service for Maoris, including the establishment of temporary camp hospitals, ' nurses' travelling expenses, etc. I should be glad to. know in regard to the above what has been tho average cost to your board during the past three years, exclusive of the treatment of Maoris in the general hospitals of your board. I should also, be glad to know the average loss daring the past three years to your board in respect, of rates uncollected on native lands. The information ds required in consequence of pressure which is being brought to bear upon the Government to take over the entire financial responsibility of the treatment of natives, and it is desirous, therefore, to know what this involves." The secretary reported that the board spent annually about £300 in connection with the treatment of natives. The board decided to supply the information requested. A letter was read from the medical officer of health, AudSand, to the nurse for natives in which it was suggested that the nurse should see the secretary of the Hospital Board and endeavour to get certain native consumptives admitted to a sanatorium through the boaud or else treated at the hospital. The secretary stated that the natives referred to belonged to Matakana Island. The chairman said it was most unsatisfactory that the board should be asked to pay for the treatment of oatives when the Maoris did not pay rates on their lands. The cost of treating each native in a sanatorium would be three guineas a week. , . Dr. Young reported having examined two of the natives. One required about six months' treatment in a sanatorium and if this treatment were given the native would have a 50 per cent, chance. He would not recommend the admission of the other native to a sanatorium. Major Moore, of the Salvation Army, said the sick native was a landless man. He went to the war and was wounded. He had been recommended by a local doctor as a case.for a full pension, but so far no pension had been granted to him. , , Mr. Murdoch said he thought the board should give the man a chance for his life. He moved that sanatorium treatment be guaranteed for six months, but that this case be not taken as a precedent. The motion was carried unanimously. It was further resolved: "That this board directs the attention of the Health Department to the fact that a returned native soldier is suffering from tuberculosis, and as .it is a matter of life or death he is to be admitted to a sanatorium immediately. That in view of the circumstances of this case and that native lands do hot pay rates the board reauests the Government to'Bhoulder the liability of this case."