HEALTH OF MAORI RACE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1930, Page 7

HEALTH OF MAORI RACE

-. BETTER LIVING' ’•• ' ' * OUTLOOK EXCEEDINGLY HOPEFUL. The progressive improvement in living,/ conditions and sanitation makes the gsn-fe I eral. outlook as regards the' health of. the Maori exceedingly hopeful, says Dr. E. director of Maori hygieae,. in the annual. report.presented to Par* The infantile deatK-tfate whicK in th : e past has’ been ‘exceedingly high, in the year under review’ showed a remarkable and gratifying fall, while the birth rate remained high. -•/ < ,7" Under the 1 land 'policy, of ’.the’ Minister of Native 3l settlement schemes are already : in progress. This, says- the report, while: absorbing and providing ‘employment: for many who would otherwise be .destitute, must in the near, future tend to improve the general welfare and increase the productivity of the country. The t department can view with complacency and satisfac*. .tion this ,policy.of concerted action in land development, which, with, the improved housing and. living cqnjitiohs, better food, better clothing, good water and improved sanitary measures niust mean improved general .health and diminished tubercular incidence. A number of Maori .health ?.councils still continue to do' useful work. These councils'chiefly labour under the. lack of finance. They can levy fines for breaches of by-laws, but this, has led to thQ anomalous position of the most law-abid-ing districts being the poorest. The mass of public inertia is reduced in proportion to the number -of. councilfe-Jehigh actively function. It is pleasing to noM that the Rat'ana element now seeks reJ| presentation on the councils and villagel committees, and assists in their work! the misguided'' element having becoiM more amenable to reason and ’to tlw wishes of the department. ■ ■';