HEALTH OF MAORIS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 281, 23 August 1919, Page 6

HEALTH OF MAORIS

DR. BUCK APPOINTED A SPECIAL OFFICER. >

The Hon. G. W. Russell yesterday made the following statement;— "During the past four years special consideration has been given to the health of the Maori race: It has been fuiind that many of them'live under insanitary conditions, and that there is not. only a lack of knowledge, but also a •lack of will in connection with matters relating to the health of adults and particularly of . children.

From time :to time reports-have been received from the health officers regarding the Native race and. a number of nurses have at various times been .appointed for special work amongst, (he Maoris. In some cases these were women of the Native race, nr half-nislrs, who had had full training in hospitals.

"The epidemic of last year was disastrous in a marked degree to the Maoris, as is invariably the case with the dark races. Through the epidemic full information was obtained of the .Condition under which the Maoris live, and after the epidemic subsided circulars were sent to every Maori villaqc, requesting the inhabitants to establish committees of health and sotting out the lines which these committees should net upon in securing cleanliness and hygienic conditions. A very large number of replies have been received expressing thanks for the information siven and reporting the establishment of the commit tees advised.

"A further pten has now been taken by the appointment of Dr. Dangiliiroa as a special officer of health for the Native race. Dr Itungiliiroa nr Dr. Buck, as lie is known amoncsl bis Fiiropcan friends, is a graduate nf Ot-ico TJniversitv, and was'formerly M.P. for Xu'liieni Maori district. He went away with the forces and did fine service in the war. first as a medical officer and latterly as ii military officer, boiiicr in each capacity cicely associated with his own people. On bis return a few months a'jo lie acceded to my request to ioiii the Health Departipent in Hie cap,icily staled. and he now holds Hi" rank of D:s----trh-l Henlt'i Office l ' within anv of the lieallh district* of the Dominion, bis special dnlv liein" lo watch over the bc>Uh of ihe Nntivc race.

"T feel sure that mu!«r sn able and enthusiastic an officer as T)r. T\an"ihiroa, a oreaf <le" forward will be taken in the matter."