MAORI CHILD'S DEATH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 18, 22 January 1935, Page 6

MAORI CHILD'S DEATH

COMMENT BY CORONER j CALLING MEDICAL AID I'HE DANGER OF DELAY j to “Chronicle”) , MARTON, Jan. 21. Advice to the Alaori people wa® voiced to-day by the district, curonar (Air. F. C. Wilson) at the conclusion of an inquest at Marton into circumstances surrounding the death of Titihuia lleta, a ye.ir-old Alaori child. Evidence had disclosed that the child had beeu ill lor two weeks, but had nui been attended by a doctor. Had proper treatment been given the young life might have been saved. ’’This is the third death of Maori children within a few weeks at Onepuhi,” said Mr. Wilson, “and 1 want to impress upon the Alaori people the necessity for calling in medical aid in serious cases. No doctor in Marton, and 1 doubt if any doctor in New Zealand, questions the means of the people when a call comes to an urgent case,” added the coroner. “The Alaori can find a real friend in the pakeha if he will but seek assistance-’’ Mr. Wilson went on to say that the Alaori race was one of the finest in the world and there was no reason why it should decrease in numbers if proper care was taken of the young and a doctor’s advice sought in cases of serious illness. Air. Wilson also sounded a note of warning regarding Alaori burials. “As a body, whether it be pakeha or Alaori, cannot be buried without the proper authority,” he said, “and if that authority is not obtained, lhe person undertaking the burial is liable to severe punishment.”

Constable Baskin represented the police at the inquest. Dr. R. A. Church said that he was informed by the police that a Alaori child had died suddenly and yesterday he examined the body. There was no ovience of external injury or anything 10 suggest foul play. The mother had informed him that the child had been ill for about two weeks with whooping cough aad for a day or two prior to its death its breathing had been rapid and distressed. The child had died suddenly in her arms on lheaftei noon of January 19. “1 am of the opinion,” added the doctor, “that death resulted from heart failure fol lowing on whooping cough and bronchial pneumonia. To Constable Alaskin witness said that, had the child been properly treated in hospital its life would probably have been saved. Whooping cough requires careful nursing. Airs. Alatha Heta (mother of the child), said the child had been ill about two weeks with whooping cough. She had not called in a doctor but the district nurse from Feilding had twice attended the child, but she was improving then. The child died very suddenly. If she had known the kiddy was so ill she would have sent for a doctor. Kerenua Tgako said he was a rela tive of Air. and Mrs. Heta and visited them last Friday. He saw the little sick girl and advised that a doctor be called. He heard of the death on Saturday evening and rang the police. The coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. He said the case was a distressing one and he expressed sympathy with the relatives.