MAORI CHILD’S DEATH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19261, 27 August 1924, Page 7

MAORI CHILD’S DEATH.

ATTENDED BY INDIAN HERBALIST. SEVERE COMMENT BY CORONER. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 26. At the inquest on a Maori child who was treated by an Indian herbalist named Abraham Waliey Mohamod Salaman, the coroner (Mr Hunt) asked Dr Buck why tho Health Department did not prosecute the man. Dr Buck: Wo can’t get at him. A previous case failed. Mr Hunt: Ho takes their money and fills them up with drugs. Addressing witness, -Salaman, Mr Hunt asked: What did you do in India? Witness: The same thing. Mr Hunt: Then go back and practise on your own people. Witness (to Mr Paterson, who appeared for Salaman): My business is hereditary, and my ancestors practised it. My ancestors dealt in medicine, but I know nothing about it. Dr Buck was granted permission to address tho court. “This is the second case of this nature that has occurred,” lie said. “Tlio Maoris over a largo area think Salaman is a fully-qualified doctor. They come to him from long distances with cases that are practically hopeless. They hear of a marvellous Indian doctor, and 'they come lo him and die. The trouble lies in the fact that it is a Maori point of honour that the de-ad must go back to where they came from for burial. All tho expense has to be borne by the Health Department. These people who are poor in any case come to Salaman, and the patient dies. Salaman cannot give a death certificate, and a coronial inquiry has to be hold. A patient should bo left to die in his own' town.’’ Mr Paterson: How does it get about? Dr Buck: They spread it round. You would be astonished how it gets about amongst the Maoris. Continuing, Dr Buck said that men such as had been referred to did an incalculable amount of harm amongst the Maoris. Dir Hunt: People should be protjeted from men of this sort. Addressing ‘-daman, Mr Hunt said. You give up dealing with the Maoris, Vou’ic a humbug, and I am going to see what f can do to have yon stopped. Tho Coroner remarked to Mr Paterson that, Saiaina-n should he prosecuted. Mr Paterson: I think we h-a-vo enough influence with him to see that he stops dealing with the Maoris. Tim Coroner found that deceased had died from advanced pulmonary tubercu-