CORONER’S COMMENT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 101, 23 January 1935, Page 10

CORONER’S COMMENT

Maoris and Medical Aid CHILD’S DEATH AT ONEPUHI Dominion' Special Service, Palmerston North, January 22. “This is the third death of a. Maori child at Onepuhi within a few weeks, aud I want to impress upon the Maori people the necessity for seeking medical aid in such cases,” said the district coroner, Mr. F. C. Wilson, at an inquest upon a Maori child at Marton. “No doctor in Marton or, I doubt, any part of New Zealand would question the means of the people when the call came for an urgent ease. The Maoris can find a real friend in the pakeha if they will but seek his assistance.” Mr. . Wilson warned the Maoris regarding burials, stating that a body, whether pakeha or Maori, could not be buried without proper authority. If authority was not obtained, the person performing the burial was liable to severe punishment. Evidence was given by Dr. Church that the child had been ill for a fortnight with whooping-cough, according to its mother. A day or two before its death, the child's breathing had been rapid and distressed. He was of the opinion that death was due, to heart failure following whooping-cough and bronchial pneumonia. Dr. Church said' lie believed that if the child had been properly treated in hospital its life would probably have been saved. The coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.