THE MERCER MAORIS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 121, 22 August 1913, Page 2

THE MERCER MAORIS.

Ape They Being Starved ? Rev. Mutu C. Kapa wrote to a contemporary as follows : " I wish to point out two matters that affect us here iu Mercer. Firstly, last month about 30 Maoris were vaccinated, and none of them " took." This seem? to me the reason why the epidemic has spread hero, for the eight mentioned in your paper as having the complaint were amongst the 30 unsuccessfully vaccinated. Secondly, I wish to tell you what has happened here to us in connection with tho proclamation preventing us from going to the stores, butchers, etc, in Mercer. On August 9 the Maoris hore wore summoned by the doctor to come to Mercer to be examined to ascertain if their vaccination had been successful. When they got to Mercer they were ordered away by the policeman, although they had assembled at tho command of the doctor. They were also driven off from tho stores, and were threatened by the policeman with the £SO fine, although these people had not come from any infected settlement.

" What are tho Maoris to do now they are prevented from going to the store ? It is said one person must go and get food, etc., for perhaps a hundre 1. Hut who is that one person to be ? Tho doctor or the policeman ? Since all Maoris even if they have certificates of successful vaccinal ion, are prevented from going. Therefore, I pray that tho Health Department will lighten this yoke we are carrying, since the Maori no longer can live on berries, fern root, etc.. and has been taught by the pakeha to oat bread and drink tea. What arc we to do if we are not allowed to go and procure food'/

"I should be sorry to see this epidemic spread to all part 3 of the Dominion,- and I personally am warning the pecpl: abaut the danger ot spreading it, and the danger of being fined by the Government, which is chastising its people with scorpions. Had the Government in the past done their duty and seen that we were vaccinated we should nnt be in this pass, and if the way they are treating U3 now is carrying out the spirit cf the Treaty of Waitangi, tben we salute them and their tender mercies."

" No Genuine Case Neglected." A report Received by the Dntrict Health Officer from the department's inspector at Mercer is of interest, inasmuch f<s it makes reference to the article above published. "The statement that the Maoris at Meicer are allowed to starve is absolutely untrue," says the district inspector, "as even before this srticle appeared relief was being afforded them, and that without beirg asked for. I visited the Mercer settlement on August b'th. and instructed them in quarantine regulations, and told them that cne man could act as store messenger for th 3 whola of the settlement (which is only a small one), and oi that occasion there waa no complaint of shortage of provisions.

"I visited again on August 9tb, and found that some of the patients had left the settlement, and gone to a ramp two miles down on the other side of the river, There was nu complaint of shortness of food then. I again visited the settlement on August 14th, with Dr Pomare, and found that practically the whole native population had left for the river camp. We went ti the river camp, and, although thev were not short of food, it was evident they would be if quarantine is to be kept up, and a reasonable supply of flour, sugar, tea, beef, soap, and otber things were ordered from the Mercer storekeeper. "I may inform you that relief is being given at Mercer, Rangiriri, Waahi, Taupiri, Whatawhata, and Maungatautari, and this has been done from the first. No case of genuine distress has teen neglected, and, as far as 1 can do it, no genuine case will go without relief. I am not, of course, going to ask every native I meet if he wants food, neither d> 1 feel my instructions r.quire mo to supply luxuries. "if the Rev. Mutu P. Kapu, who supplied the information contained in the articl •, were to get in touch with me I could give him something to do which woull be more useful to his raca than writing to the Prees and ventilating imaginary griev-a-icey. The natives themselves are generally acting splendidly—it is the pakeha who is losing his head mostly