Maori Child Buried Without Certificate

Chronicle (Levin), 5 July 1949, Page 5

Maori Child Buried Without Certificate

GISBORNE. Julv 4. A Maori cleryAmian. the ReTT. N. T. Wanoa, was oonvicted and discharfred bvtthe Magistrate Otr E. T-. Walton) at Ruatoria on a charge of having taken part in the burial of the bqdv of a Maori infant. t^ere uot haviny been obtained a doctor's eertjficate of death, a Coroner's order to burv the bodv, on a certificate of registration of death. The, second defendant. Georp-g Brown. of Hick's , Bav, was held technicallA'' guiltv, but the information was dismis- : sed. The police prosecutnr fSenirv-Ser-geant Wilson) sabl he had been instrneted not to ask for a penaltv. The De-puty-Register-General and the police wanted publicitv for the provisions of the Maori births and deaths regulations. The child was born oh August 14, 1948, and was in good health till November when it beeame ill and a doctor prescribed for gastro-enteritis. In March the mother and prandmother took the ehild to Amo io. On Anril 21 the child died suddenlv. prid the bndv was brought bank to Hick's Bav. Tlje shild 's grandfnO1")-, Ceorge Bviwti, arranyed for Afr Wanon t" eonduct the bnrial service on AnrO 28. The dpfendunts had not obtained the death and burial. certificates. explaininy that they had overlooked the proyisions.