CORONER WARNS MAORIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24070, 15 September 1941, Page 3

CORONER WARNS MAORIS

DELAY IN CALLING DOCTOR [BY TELEGRAPH —PBESS ASSOCIATION"] WAIROA, Saturday A strong comment and a warning by the coroner, Mr. V. E. Winter, were features of an inquest into the death of a three-year-old Maori child, Xgahoe Puhi Kaurauria, of Te Reinga. The evidence showed that the child was taken to a tohunga instead of medical aid being sought. "I am satisfied there is nothing suspicious about the matter," said Mr. Winter, "but the parents were too long in sending for medical assistance. As I have pointed out before, especially at Te Reinga, it is no good waiting until a person is almost dead. Once I had the case of a man who was left until he was unconscious and then the district nurse was sent for so that they could get out of it. "When a child is in danger, the plain duty of the parents is to send for a doctor or the district nurse. They must do it, and I will see that they do it. If aid is not sent for they are responsible for the death. If it occurs again I will report the matter to the Minister of Justice. I know some Maoris have a dread of a doctor or nurse and go to tohungas instead. This is a final warning, and if medical aid is not sought in the future I will report the matter to Wellington." A verdict that death was caused hv convulsions following pneumonia was i returned.