Page 2 Advertisements Column 2

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 322, 18 May 1878, Page 2

MEDICAL ATTENDANCE FOR NATIVES. (To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sir, —I would call your attention to the advisability of some provision being made by the Government to meet the requirements of the natives when suffering from sickness. As matters at present stand, the natives, when sick, are left to such treatment (if such it can be called) that they choose to give themselves, without troubling about getting the advice of a proper medical man, either from indifference or fear of the expense, It, therefore, often happens, particularly in outlying districts where the settlers and natives are thrown pretty much together, that if a case of sickness among the latter occurs, some settler out of charity provides such food and medicine as he may think fit, and should the illness seem serious will send for the doctor at his own charges —a doctor’s bill not being very readily entertained by the native. Now, I think that if the Government were reminded, through your paper, that this state of things exists, some steps would be taken to give the medical man resident at Hawera charge of the natives when sick, with a salary proportionate to his estimated labour. ‘ I believe this course was adopted formerly, and as the natives are as liable to sickness now as then, I think you will agree with me, that the Government should take the matter in hand, and not allow the natives when sick to be totally neglected, or become a burden on individual charity, —I am, &c., ’ SETTLER.