NURSES FOR MAORIS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 651, 14 March 1914, Page 4

NURSES FOR MAORIS.

, HOSPITAL BOARD AND HEALTH OFFICER. DEPARTMENT'S DRASTIC I ACTION. j The question of providing special nurses for Maoris formed the subject of a heated discus aion at a meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board on Tharsday. At the previous meeting of the Board, the Board declined to bear the expenses of such special nurses. In a letter Bent to the Board by the district health officer, Dr Makgill, that official said he regretted that the Board had decided to take no action in the matter, especially at a time when smallpox was prevalent. Later on in his letter Dr Makgill said the work of the nurses was largely in the nature of checking infection as diseases among the Maoria. Aa it was impossible to stop the work of the nurses pending possible amendments in the existing legislation, it was necessary for the Department to carry it on without the co-operation of the Waikato Hospital Board. He would, therefore, recommend that the cost be charged against the money otherwise payable as a subsidy to the Board. Mr Campbell Johnston said that the Board should not be dictated to by the Health Officer. The language in the letter was absolutely uncalled for and I he would move that the communication be sent back to the writer. The chairman Mr Bailey in seconding the motion said he did not believe in providing special nurses for the Maoris. He thought it waa time that hospital boards generally took a solid stand. Dr Finch said Dr Makgill's word waß tantamount to saying, "If you don't do as we wish you to do, then we will use our influence to stop your subsidy." It was eventually decided to send a copy of the letter to the Minister of Public Health.