"EPIC OF HEROISM"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 85, 12 April 1937, Page 5

"EPIC OF HEROISM"

NURSES IN FAR NORTH

WORK AMONG MAORIS

(By Telcgra»h—l're<i9 Association.1! AUCKLAND, April 11. "Contrary to popular belief, puerperal sepsis levies a heavy toll on the Native mother. It is the biggest single cause, of.death among Maori women, but among European women it is the lowest,".'said Dr. D. G. McMillan, MP, chairman of the Maternity Services Investigation Committee, which has just "returned from a tour of inspection in the North Auckland district. , Dr. McMillan paid a tribute to the \yprk ./-of the nurses and to. Dr. Cook,', Medical Officer'of Health in the WhangafeX; district. . ' .

'During its visit to the North Auckland district, said Dr.. McMillan, the, committee had gathered a fund of valuable information, but it obviously had not the opportunity of formulating any collective conclusions. He himself had been much impressed by the patience, enthusiasm, and constructive ability of Dr. Cook, who was ■' doing great work among Natives.

"Secondly, I must pay a.tribute to the nurses who are working among Maoris," said Dr. McMillan. "The people of New Zealand have no conception of the wonderful work that is being carried on by those girls under most exacting circumstances. If the history, of nursing and medical services m the northern rural areas ever comes to be written it will be an epic of heroism and strength of character worthy of the best traditions of any country." , . •

The-;urg'ent need of vthe Maoris in that district was adequate housing, including facilities for storing and heating water. Until that was done little could be1 accomplished in the social, economic,, or medical spheres. -

"One'must admire the fortitude of the Maori women under most hopeless conditions of overcrowding in poor, decrepit, ':'primitive dwellings," said. Dr. McMillan. "On the medical side tuberculosis;.'is the biggest problem, and one cannot; but be affected by the sight of young children with advanced chest infections, and with painful infected 'and deformed joints, in many cases their. only medical attention being the periodical visits of the nurse.

"In its determination to place the Maori-people upon • a healthy, useful, and productive footing the Govern-ment-has certainly taken on a mansized job." ..•■'■