HEALTH OF MAORI CHILDREN

Chronicle (Levin), 7 November 1946, Page 6

HEALTH OF MAORI CHILDREN

— Press Association

| By Telegrayh-

I • c. . AUCKLAND, Nov. (5. ; 1 ■ The slrockjng c.ondition of the health; ; of Mh.Ori children in .tlie Matamata 'disi tricjfc,' was revy.tile.d at a meeting of the j An.cklan.tl .Education Board today when j | a letter wns received from a head.j tea.chei- in the distriet who tjaid he had l be,en appalled at the children 's .condition ever since he undertook duties. ] I-Ie s.ta,t,ed tliat, in a re.cent inspection j by tjie Distiict Nurge, all but four of 41 children iyere found suffering from sjcia ihfections. It had been necessary t.o exc'lude some children from tlie sehool because of iiifeetions but they pljiy.ed in a pa uji.til a" d,emand was sent. for their r.eturn. It had be.en ne-cessary to impose officjal segregation. The teneh,er asked the Board 's iustruction whether the Health Departnient 'sj direction that thp children thus affect-f ed be ljterally excluded, should be Toi- ] loived. This woiild mean.the exclusion I of nbou.t thirty. After expr.essing grave concern the ! Board decided. to urge tlie Health De- ; partinent to take imniediate actiou and j that the njatter be "lirought to tlie! nofiee of tlie Prime hlinister ajTd tlie Xlinister of Ileaith.