MAORI OPINION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 50, 20 February 1945, Page 5

MAORI OPINION

QUESTION OF T.B. CONTROL

CONTACTS TO BE MADE

When the question of the establishment of a sanatorium for the South Auckland! Hospital district was under discussion at the meeting of the Whakatane Hospital Board last Friday } the point was raised by Mr McCready that something should' be done to contact the Maoris themselves who in this community were likely to produce the majority of the tuberculosis castes going forward* The board concurred with I the suggestion. i Mr MicCready said lie considered it time that the Maori community should be taken into the board'sconfidence and told exactly what the scheme involved and also instructed in proper counter measures. He pointed out that Maoris were more and more awakening to a sense of their responsibilities and that no harm would be done in bringing their elder& together and laying the case before them. The chairman (Mr L. Buddie) agreed warmly stating that a little friendly assistance in this direction would go a long way. He had given the matter considerable thought and had decided to contact whenever possible some of the more prominent members of the race. His idea was that a series of lectures could be given and that helpful co-operation could be found through the native nurses. Mr McCready moved that, the board take immediate action by contacting the Maori Councils and laying before. them the projected scheme of a sanatorium and also the best, methods of control and hygiene. Unless such action took he contended that being the board with the greatest dependant Maori population the local hospital would be crowded out.

Mr Mull ins also agreed point ing out that if the Government saw any indication of the Maoris being prepared to help themselves there was every likelihood of financial®encouragement being forthcoming.

The board agreed to Mr McCready's suggestion and the following committee to contact the Maoris and to formulate a progressive programme was set .up: Messrs McCready } Mullins, Burt and McGougan.