MAORIS' HEALTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 16

MAORIS' HEALTH

MORE NURSES NEEDED CONDITIONS AT PANMURE HOSPITAL BOARD'S CONCERN Conditions under which Maori women are living at gardens at Panmure were discussed at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday, when a letter was received from the DirectorGeneral of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, asking the board favourably to consider a suggestion that the Maoris residing between Huapai and Warkworth and the surrounding area should bo placed under the caro of the district nurse stationed at Silverdalc. The secretary of the board reported that there were 534 Maoris in the area referred to, most of them living under European conditions. The chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, said the residents of Silverdale were contributing about £lO to the support of the nurse, and if sho was to bo called on to cover this wide area they would have something to say in the matter. He thought something should be done in the direction proposed. A native woman who was a trained nurse had described to him the living conditions among the Maori women at the gardens at Panmure as " something appalling." Need For Prompt Action It was a matter that should bo taken up with the department whether sufficient nurses should not be stationed in this locality as well as in the wider area of the north, continued Mr. .Wallace. The people of Silverdale should be consulted, as the proposal would mean that the nurse would be away for long periods. He moved that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee to get the necessary information. Mrs. M. M. Dreaver said the time had come when they must consider applying to the Native Department for the training of Maori nurses. What had been said about the living and health conditions of the Maori people was certainly absolutely correct, and something would have to be done quickly.

"A National Matter" Mr. W. A. Bishop said the people of Silverdale would not agree to contribute to the support of the nurse if she was to go far north and west to such places as Kaukapakapa and Rawene. Mr. G. T. Parvin said the board ought to be very careful. If they agreed to Dr. Watt's suggestion it would be stated that they were responsible. Llie nurses for tho Maoris should bo a charge on tho Native Department, The chairman said that some years ago he drew the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates' attention to the conditions under which the Maoris were living at Panmure, and ho said that that would have to stop. That was some years ago, and nothing had been done. "Whoever pays tho piper said the chairman, '"something will have to be done to save the Maoris. It is a national matter." He hoped the I<inance Committee would bring down such a report that the matter would have to be taken up by the Native Department. The motion was carried.