MENACING ATTITUDE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 56, 3 September 1926, Page 11

MENACING ATTITUDE

4 MAORIS AND HEALTH OFFICIALS REMOVAL OF SICK CHILD DOCTOR'S POINTED REMARKS TO RATANAITES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, 2nd September. On various occasions during recent months Government officials have experienced considerable difficulty with Maoris, particularly at Thames and Hauraki Plains. It has been found that the groups of Maoris from which the trouble has sprung are members of the Ratana sect. On occasion, Ratanaites have adopted a menacing attitude, and have gone so far as to defy Government officials in the execution of their duties. During the week-end a glaring case of obstruction happened at a Maori settlement called Kopurahi, situated near Kerepeehi, on the Hauraki Plains, in connection with a sick child. Word was sent to Auckland, and Dr. H. Chesson, medical officer of health for the district, issued instructions for the patient to be removed by force, if necessary. Dr. Chesson also gave orders that if the child died in the meantime no death certificate was to be issued until a coroner's inquest had been held. Next day Chief-Inspector Franklin, Inspector H. H. Martiadale, of Thames, Nurse Jarrett, and a policeman proceeded to the pa. Again there was a demonstration, but not so hostile as previously. The mother of the sick child, although she wished to have it properly attended to, was in great fear of the other Ratanaites, and especially "the apostle." After a little time, however, the patient was placed in a motor-car and made as comfortable as possible. Accompanied by the weeping Maori mother, the party made the journey back to Thames. RESENTMENT MANIFEST. Later it was learned that the Natives were still in a state of excitement over the removal of the patient, and as there was a likelihood' of the disease spreading, Dr. Chesson decided to proceed to the camp himself and to have a korero with Rangi and his band of followers. Accompanied by two health inspectors and Nurse Jarrett, he arrived at the pa on Monday afternoon, and expressed a wish to see Rangi. When the party arrived at its destination not an able-bodied Native was to be seen. Rangi was also missing, but some old men, including the aged father of Rangi, and several women and children clustered round. At first nobody in the pa knew where Rangi was. The .other men were working on drainage works. After much questioning it was learned that "Rangi had gone away in a cart in the morning." The Natives were quiet, but their demeanou; showed that there was still a spirit of resentment. When, however, it wa: explained to the assembled Natives that Dr. Chesson was "The big Rangi tira of Health" the mother of the sick child gave all the help she pos: sibly could. She answered many questions put to her, but was evidently in great fear. When Dr. Chesson entered the whare where the father of Rangj was huddled up on the ground in front of an open fire, the mother went to Nurse Jarrett, and, crying bitterly, beg god her to tell "the big chief" no: to question her any further because i would only get her into more serioi. trouble with the Ratana people. WOULD STAND NO NONSENSE. Addressing the Natives, Dr. Chesso made it quite plain that the Govern ment would not stand any nonsense It was no use thinking that Ratair or his apostle Rangi could defy th Health Department. If there was an; sickness in the camp it had to be rr ported at once to Nurse Jarrett. Turning to Hawera, tho apost; Rangi's father, Dr. Chesson said: "Yo. tell Rangi I havo been here, and tei him all I have said. You say to him that he is acting wrongly, and if he persists he will find himself in serious trouble. In other pas and Maori places when sickness has come, the Natives always notify the nurse or inspector. This has taken place in other camps where the people are Ratanaites." Rangi was not acting under instructions from Ratana, he said. Ratana desired that the Natives should have the benefit of the Department's nurses and health inspectors. When Ratana's Maori committee heard of what had happened there and elsewhere in the district, Rangi would get into trouble. The doctor's words appeared to have made a decided impression on the assembled Natives, and their attitude had completely changed when the official party left the pa. On inquiry at the Thames Hospital yesterday it was learned that, although the Maori child had been seriously ill, it was doing well.