HOT POOLS

Wairarapa Daily Times, 30 June 1933, Page 6

HOT POOLS

THEIR DANGER EMPHASISED. MAORI CHILD’S DEATH. ROTORUA, Thursday. Strong comments regarding the danger of unfeneed hot pools in Maori pas and the necessity of providing propeir safeguards by fencing were made by the Coroner, Mr W. L. Richards, at an inquest to-day into the death of a three-year-old Maori child, Richard Skipwith, who died following a fall into a hot pool at Ngapuna Pa on 20 th June. In returning a verdict of death firom shock as the result of scalds and suffocation, the Coroner said lie had visited the pool in question the morning after the fatality and it appeared to him to be a veritable death trap. It was used by Natives for washing and he had been informed that two other children had recently fallen into it but fortunately had been rescued in time. It varied in temperature and was very slippery round the edges where the Native women had been washing. There was an obligation upon those living in pas to protect small children by fencing in these dangerous pools. He was glad to' say this particular pool had been filled in since the tragedy.—(P.A.)