MORTALITY AMONG MAORIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23542, 4 July 1938, Page 10

MORTALITY AMONG MAORIS

An alarming position is revealed by the statistics of Maori births and deaths in the Pukekohe district since the beginning of May. In the period from May.l to June 29, 17 deaths of Maoris were registered at Pukekohe Every case was that of a child, and the ages ranged from nine months to &h years. Only 10 Maori births have been registered here since January 1 last. In April the position in regard to the children was not so serious, there being only four death registrations. The causes of death in the cases registered since May 1 are common illnesses, such as measles, bronchitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis. This heavy mortality is attributed largely to the conditions under which many of the Maoris who do seasonal work ir market gardens in the district live, the shacks they occupy being regarded as quite unfit for habitation in the winter.

In a telegram despatched to the Prime Minister, drawing his attention to the deaths since May 1, Mr G. T. Parvin. of Pukekohe, Franklin member of the Auckland Hospital Board, stated that some of the Maoris are herded like cattle in any shelter whatever. He added: “ Children are sleeping on earth floors. Many are born there. Insufficiency of clothes and nutriment and lack of warmth is giving death a lamentable toll.” A reply to Mr Parvin’s telegram was received on Monday evening from the Prime Minister. Mr Savage stated that he was having an immediate investigation made.