MAORIS WARNED

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 282, 27 August 1942, Page 8

MAORIS WARNED

Authority Needed Before

Burial Of Dead

Dominion Special Service. WANGANUI, Augusi 26. “It cannot be too strongly impressed on the Maoris that: the law mu,si be obeyed bud that they must have a doctors certificate or coroners burial warrant before they may bury their dead,”. said the coroner, Air. Al. Dixon,_ when an inquest was held in AA anganui concerning' the death of a Maori infant, Tommy Katana aged five months. The child.died nt Pari'kinp pa on August .19, and was wrongfully buried. The body was later exhumed by the Wanganui ponce. • Returning a verdict that death was. due to accidental suffocation, the coroner emphasized that Maoris must notify the police if a death occurred to a person who had not received medical attention. In (he present ease there was no suggestion that the child should have had a doctor or had been neglected, but- cases hail occurred in the Wanganui district where Maoris had died, possibly through the neglect of relatives or friends to obtain medical assistance. In all cases of sickness Alaoris must communicate with a doctor or the Department of Health. Maoris seemed to have au aversion to seeking medical aid, but early attention might easily save a life. In the present case Maoris! appeared to be .under the impression that notification of the child's death had been given to the proper authority, and they were at liberty to bury the body, but this did not relieve them of personal obligation in the matter. Evidence was given that the postmortem examination disclosed that no disease was present in the body. Death was caused by suffocation due to the inhalation of milk. The child has been reinterred in the same grave, but following Maori custom the grave was temporarily covered in after the- body was exhumed. The child’s pram and all its effects were buried with it.