TREATMENT OF NATIVES

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14539, 10 December 1920, Page 6

TREATMENT OF NATIVES

QUESTION OF PAYMENT.

WHERE BOARD VIEWS DIFFERENTLY.

In reply to the opinion of the Walkato Board that the case of a Maori woman patient should be a charge on the Dominion, the District Health Officer has staled to the Hoard that it was undoubtedly the responsibility of the Hospital Board to pay for the treatment of Maori cases similar to this one, paying the reduced fee of 30s per week and making its own arrangements with patients as to what could he paid by them to the Board.

The Health Officer was of opinion that natives were in the same position as Europeans in this respect. The item on the estimates, "Native Health Services," was only a small sum to assist towards expenses in connection with native nurses, medicines supplied "to native school teachers, and general purposes of that nature. These moneys did not cover the ordinary expenses of the medical officers and nurses' expenses and medicines for sucli work. Mr Johnstone disagreed with the health Officer's conclusion. Natives were not in the same position as Europeans. The latter, with the Government, maintained the hospitals, but practically no rates were received from the natives.

The secretary stated that the writer argued that out of the grant there was no money left.

Mr Hill referred to the fact that there was an annual vi/te to afford assistance to indigent nat/'es. The Board to write to the Minister and to bring these various points concerning the subject before his attention. At a later stage Mr Tristram argued Hal there should be no distinction in colour. 'l'o this the chairman pointed cut that it was not a question of colour or creed, but that there were two departments, the Hospital and Charitable Aid and (he Native Department. Which should pay in instances of this nature was the bone of contention.