TUBERCULAR MAORIS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4973, 12 May 1926, Page 2

TUBERCULAR MAORIS.

COST OF SANATORIA TREATMENT. HEAVY CHARGE ON BOARDS. The question of defraying the cost of sanatoria, treatment of tubercular Maoris was referred to by members of the Thames Hospital Board at its meeting on Monday. The district nurse to Natives (Miss J.-M. Jarrett) had reported that there were several natives, requiring treatment at the sanatoria, and cer- . tificates from doctors recommending such treatment accompanied the applications. . In order to give effect to the recommendations, and also to find out the extent of the board’s liability tor the treatment of Maoris the secretary .wrote to the Prime Minister. On Monday a reply was received from the Prime Minister Advising that arrangements had been made wtih the Health Department to accommodate at the Pukeora sanatorium immediately the three- Maori girls; Lena, Sophie Fatine, anil Elsie Hera. It would be necessary to make application as early as possible, and it was presumed that the board would be prepared to guarantee the fees to the department. The secretary reported that there were, now four natives requiring treatment. A sum of £5O had been obtained th tough the Native Land Board towards the, cost of treatment for one of the patients. He expressed the opinion that payment for the other cases was rather remote. Mr G. Death said that the Native Affairs Department should be able, to assist such cases. The treatment ot Mapris should f be made a national charge and care. It was scarcely fair to expect ratepayers to shoulder the burden. The chairman (Mr W. E. Hale) agreed with .the views of the previous speaker. Mr W. E. Kennedy said there should be some finality ,tp the matter, and perhapsi if the. hospital boa.rds refused to accept responsibility to the Government for sanatoria fees it would bring matters to a head. The chairman that a doctor was not always prepared to certify that a tubercular case was not an urgent one. ) Mr J. Lange said that such casqs were rarely urgent ones. Mr Death moved that the Native Affairs Department be asked to defray the cost of treatment of the cases under review. Mr Kennedy seconded. Mr Danby pointed out tha t the board was unfortunate in that it had about 1600 Maoris, in‘lts district, very few of whom paid, any rates. He entirely agreed that the cost of treatment should be a national charge, and not a charge upon boards. The chairman thought -that the whole. position should be placed before the Hospital Boards’ 1 Conference. Apparently the Minister was loathe to commit.himself on the matter. ' Mr Danby thought it was, reasonable to estimate that ’the cost of treatment of the cases under review would run the board into well over £3OO. There was no finality to a tubercular case. ■ The resolution was carried, and on the suggestion of Mr Kennedy it was! decided to forward a copy of the Prime. Minister’s, letter to the Native Affairs Department, and ,to ta.ke the - matter up with the Director-General during his forthcoming visit to Thames.