THE DISEASE AMONG THE MAORIS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 50, 23 November 1918, Page 8

THE DISEASE AMONG THE MAORIS

HEAVY TOLL PROBABLE. • Reports from various sources indicate that the disease is likely to take a heavy toll of the Maori race l)cfore it is finished. Dark races in'all parts of the world whero the scourge has appeared have been particularly badly affected by it, and their death-rate has been high. It is stated i,n the North that influenza is spreading among; the Natives, and (here are evidences that the Maoris in this end of the island are by no means escaping. ' ' HELP FOR SAMOA , WARSHIP LEAVING SYDNEY. The Australian Government has made a prompt response to the appeal of the New Zealand Government for assistance for the sulfevers by influenza in Samoa. The Samoan Administrator cabled two days ago that the epidemic had appeared at Samoa, and that medical and nursing assistance was urgently needed. The New Zealand Government was not in a posilion to spare medical men at tho present juncture, and therefore cabled to the Commonwealth authorities. The Prime Minister stated yesterday that a reply had been received from the Australian Government that the cruiser Encounter was being sent to Samoa from ■Sydney with nine medical men and thirty-five medical orderlies. Tho cruiser would take also an adequate supply of tents, vaccine, drugs, and other necessary supplies. Mr. Massey said that lie, was warmly grateful for the prompt response of the Australian authorities. It would have been exceedingly difficult to have spared medical men from New Zealand just now, although Samoa's need of assistance was great. The reply from Australia had been exceedingly welcome.