MAORI WOMAN'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22539, 2 October 1936, Page 13

MAORI WOMAN'S DEATH

TWO YEARS' SUFFERING REFUSED TO SEE DOCTOR [from our own correspondent] CAMBRIDGE, Thursday The need for more organised health supervision among the Maoris was again emphasised bv Mr. F. W. Platts, coroner, at the Cambridge Court yesterday, when giving a verdict of death by cancer of a Maori woman, Roka Karaka, who died at Foncourt on Monday after being ill for two years without receiving medical treatment. Deceased's husband, To Koopu Karaka, labourer, said that he was present when his wife died. Sho had not been attended by a doctor, although suffering for two years. Witness had been nursing her himself. He had tried to persuade his wife to go to hospital, and also to let him bring a doctor to her, but she refused. She was suffering much pain. Dr. James Richie, of Cambridge, said that he examined the body, which was that of a Maori woman, aged about 50 years. The body was thin and emaciated. The opinion he formed was that deceased died of cancer. The coroner said that it was the duty of the husband to get a doctor even though his wife had said not to do so.

HEALTH OF NATIVES DEPARTMENT'S CAMPAIGN [by telegraph—own correspondent] TE KUITI, Thursday The statement that they were anxious to co-operate in every way possible with the medical authorities to raise the standard of health among the native race was made by Maori speakers in welcoming Dr. Turbott. medical supervisor of native health in the Waikato at the Te Kuiti pa yesterday. Dr. Turbott was accompanied by Nurse Knight and the newly-appointed district nurse, Nurse Kidd. It is hoped shortly to begin a series of health lectures with the view to educating the Maori to enable his health standard and living conditions to be raised.