SERVICE TO NATIVES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 19, 19 December 1932, Page 8

SERVICE TO NATIVES.

REQUEST TO BOARD. REPLY TO DEPARTMENT. The request that the board contribute a regular annual sum of not less than £SO towards the salary and expenses of the department’s district nurso service to Natives at Otaki, andalso‘provide office accommodation, was placed before the Palmerston North Hospital Board to-day by the DirectorGeneral of the Department of Health. He pointed out that at present it was paying £l3 a year for office accommodation, but suggested that the board could make suitable provision in the building which was formerly the en-gine-room and pump-house at the Otaki Hospital. “In support of the department’s request,” stated the Director-General, "i would like to emphasise that through the activities of tho nurse to Natives a good deal of expense in connection with hospital treatment of Maoris is avoided. There is no question hut that it is primarily the responsibility of the Hospital Board to provide district nursing service, and in meeting the greater part of the cost the department is extending a speciaf concession.” The chairman (Mr J. K. Hornblow) said he failed to see wjjy the board should contribute not less than £SO annually or anything at all. Some people would be astonished to know the extent of the service given by the board to the Natives. Tire managing-secretary (Mr A. J. Phillipps): It cost us £ICOO last year. “We are doing all that we are required to do under the Act for both Maori and pakelia,” said the chairman. The hoard passed a resolution on the motion of Mr G. A. Monk, seconded by Mrs L. A. Abraham, that it was of the opinion that it failed to see that it should agree to the suggestion.