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were merely sheds made of old corrugated iron full of holes, with mud floors, no water or washing facilities, and no sanitary conveniences. In this district Maori women were using condensed milk for their children. Mention was made of the need for education of the Maori men to treat their women with more consideration and to provide them with decent living conditions. It was stated that too much money is spent on drink, while women and children are in want. Ante-natal Care. —The nurse to Natives assists the Native women with ante-natal advice and is called in for emergencies in confinement. More nurses are needed for this work. Pain-relief. —Two local doctors gave personal experience of various methods of anaesthesia and stated that they now prefer ether to other methods. Houhoba. Written complaints were received of the lack of medical or nursing facilities for Maoris in this district. Recommendations. The Committee recommends an increase of the hospital accommodation, which is barely sufficient for present needs, in order that the hospital service for Maoris may be extended. Extension of the district nursing service to give ante-natal and post-natal care is also advised. 3. WHANGAROA HOSPITAL BOARD DISTRICT. This is a small district on the north-east coast centering round Whangaroa Harbour, and comprising the County of Whangaroa. The county population is 2,533, of whom 1,342 are Maoris. Facilities are provided in a small mixed hospital at Whangaroa with four maternity beds. This hospital, which is in charge of a Medical Superintendent, has also to accommodate emergency medical and surgical cases, and it is admitted by the Board that the rooms and wards are unsuitable. Proposals for a maternity annexe are now under consideration. Improvement in staff accommodation is also being considered. The number of cases attended in the past twelve months was twenty-nine, including eight Maoris. The fees are £3 3s. per week. District Work. —The district nurse to Natives stated that she had attended eleven Maori confinements in two years, but sees a great number after delivery. It was stated that in this district Maori maternity patients are reluctant to enter hospital. Reference was made to the damage sustained by Maori women through Native methods of delivery. The deplorable conditions under which the Maori people are living were also described, and homes were visited by members of the Committee. The need for educational work among the Maori men in the interests of their families was urged, it being stated that many of them kept all their money, even sustenance, and spent it on drink, to the neglect of their women and children. Housing conditions are very bad. Pain-relief. —Pain-relief to an average degree is used in this hospital. 4. BAY OF ISLANDS HOSPITAL BOARD DISTRICT. The district controlled by this Board extends from the Whangarei Board's boundary and includes the East Coast districts north to Takau Bay. The population of the district is 10,583, of whom 4,504 are Maoris. The chief centres are Kawakawa (population 1,763) and Russell (population 1,438). Kawakawa. There is a public maternity hospital of seven beds doing 120 cases per year,-of which forty-three are Maoris. Twenty-eight cases were attended by the Medical Superintendent in his official capacity (European 10, Maori 18). Pain-relief. —Pain-relief is given to an average degree. The fees are £4 4s. per week. Reference was made at this hospital to the prevalence of scabies, impetigo, and gonorrhoea among Maoris, also to injuries sustained by Maori women through Native methods of confinement. There are two district nurses to Natives in this area, and they are called in by the Maoris when trouble arises with a case. Accommodation at this hospital is sufficient for the European population, but with increasing numbers of Maoris coming in more hospital beds are now required. Russell. At Russell there are two doctors, but no hospital facilities. There is a practising midwife who takes patients in her own home.

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