Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, SEPTEMB. 19, 1918. MAORI GIRLS AS NURSES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1879, 19 September 1918, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, SEPTEMB. 19, 1918. MAORI GIRLS AS NURSES.

THE Otaki Mail, commeuling on the Hospital Hoard’s resolution re Maori girls being afforded an opportunity to- enter public hospitals for training purposes at an earlier age than specified by the Act, viz., 21 years, says; —“Not only do Maori girls make capable nurses —residents in this district have been afforded an opportunity of knowing that this is the case —but it can readily be understood that Maori nurses, owing to their knowledge of tiie Maori mind, the superstitions and pecuiiai' sensibilities of the Natives, can do most valuable work among their own people which would be impossible for Europeans. It can also be said that the average Maori maid is well developed at, say, eighteen years, and quite titled for taking up her probationary term as nurse. Let us hope that the Board’s action in placing their request for a reduction of the age restriction may be granted.” There is a crying need for trained nurses in the various Maori settlements, but little is being done by the authorities to improve the health of the Natives and instruct them in hygiene. One need only visit the settlements to verify this. We believe if only a dozen trained Maori nurses were distributed among the settlements, incalculable good would result. They would, of course, he under the control of the Health Department. Anyhow, good material, if we may be allowed to use the term, is going to waste and numbers of intelligent Maori maidens are allowed to drift from school back to the environment of the pah who might otherwise be trained for more useful work among their own peo-

pic, and become a power for good to the Maori race in particular, and humanity in general. We hope the Minister for Public Health will take up the matter without wailing for a lead from the Hospital Boards conference.