PITIFUL WASTE OF LIFE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3639, 27 September 1912, Page 6

PITIFUL WASTE OF LIFE

SICKNESS IN . A MAORI KAINGA. [PEE PEESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 26. The “Herald’s” Taiunaranui correspondent telegraphs an incident that reveals too dearly the pitiful waste of life that goes on among the fine Native ..race of this country occurred here last week. Dr. Howard, of Taumaranui, was directed by the Health Department to. go to Tatvata, near the house-boat on the Wanganui River, to visit a Maori kaianga afflicted with sickness. Accompanied by Rev. J". E. Ward (Maori missionary) as interpreter, he went down by special boat and found a shocking state of affairs existing. Three young natives, aged respectively 5, 1.5, and 17 had already died, and wero buried, no ! burial certificate being necessary in the case of Maoris. A number of others were huddled together in ui stifling whore. without a chimney, with no ventilation and with a. fire in a kerosene tin to keep them warm. The first thing the visitors did was to knock a couple of boards off the roof -to admit air, then to throw the kerosene tin with its contents out of doors, the natives meanwihle offering no objection, but, on the contrary, assisting thorn. After this tho doctor treated tho Maoris gave them medicine and advice, aucl returned. The Native Council established some years ago is expected to see to the health of the Maori kaiangas and is'permitted to collect certain taxes for the purposeThe [facts recorded above would show that their efforts, il : they ever made any, have met with little- success.