The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays. Friday, September 6, 1890.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 2502, 6 September 1890, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays. Friday, September 6, 1890.

It is to be regretted that some of our Parliamentary philanthropists have not turned their attention to the promotion of measures for enforcing sanatory regulations among the Maories. The urgent necessity for some prompt action has been shown for several years in Parliamentary papers, such as reports from officers of the Native Department. The matter has again been brought prominently forward this session by the reports of leprosy amongstjthe Maoris and Dr Ginders’ report thereon. If the time has not yet arrived for one law for both races, then surely it is of more importance that we should endeavour to prevent the inroads of disease than that we should safeguard their pecuniary interests and landed possessions. Yet we find every possible precaution taken as regards the latter, while the former duty is altogether neglected. It may be that the race is not dying out so fast as was at one time expected ; but it is becoming, amongst the rising generation, a rare occurrence to find a native of thoroughly sound constitution. It would be unreasonable tc expect it. Their dwellings and habits of life may not be more objectionable, from a sanatory point of view; but there is no longer the same incentive to exertion, which once kept them up to a high standard of physical vigour. The Maoris of our day spend their time in loafing about Native Land Courts, some of them bestirring themselves only when the shearing season affords them the opportunity of obtaining the necessaries of life in a short time. Many of them

have now a sufficient income from rents to satisfy alljtheir needs. As an instance of their growing indolence, may be mentioned the fact recorded in our columns some months ago, when some natives at Porangahau paid an European fisherman to supply them with fish, though their village was on the river-bank, not far from the sea. In a savage state, it is well known, man may disregard Banatory laws with greater impunity : when he accustoms himself to the luxuries of civilised life, he must also adopt its precautions —or be effaced. One need go no further than the Waipawa pa across the river to find evidence that some sanatory laws are urgently required amongst the Maoris. And not only is their own, but their 1 neighbours’ health, thus seriously endangered. An epidemic might break out there, and spread quickly through the district. These Maori villages are more densely peopled, and therefore require closer attention to sewerage, etc., than any borough or town district. The. Maoris will certainly never be induced to pay any attention to such matters until the force of law compels them. Hitherto, their only remedy, when it became impossible to exist any longer at an old settlement, was to plant a new one. It is a bad remedy, but better than none; and if no better expedient can be devised, then they should be made, like a London crowd, to “ move on.”