HEALTH OF MAORIS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 133, 3 October 1913, Page 1

HEALTH OF MAORIS.

( Native Medical Service. What Dr. Vaiintine Says In the courss of his annual rsporr, Di Vaiintine, Chief Health Officer of the Dominion, makes eume interesting observations on the native medical service, and the rehtion of

State to Maori in the matter of I medical comfort. He remarks: "One ot the most important undertakings of the past year has been r.n endeavour to reorganise the native medical service. Keorganisstion was necessary owing to the varied terms on which medical officers had been appointed by the several departments giving subsidies, prior to this branch of the merjical service being handed over to the administration of this Department.

"Under the eld system there were many drawbacks to the success of the native medical service. The medical officers appointed appear to have no clear idea of the duties imposed upon them by receiving the subsidy. Their duties were cot confined to a definite district, they had no powers, and consequently few had much ei.thufiasm in tha work. To soma extent this couli hi accounted for by the fact that the medical men consider themselves aggrieved in being required to give their services to well-to-do as well as indigent natives. The feelings of a medical man ran bo imagined who, on account of a subsidy of some £SO, is called upon to attend the wealthy Maori in possession of broad acre 3, a well furnished house, high-class agricultural implements, a motor car, a billiard table, and other luxuries of modern life. With the exception of the ever-to-be-uncertain mention of the promises underlying the Npaitahu or Kemp's purchase in the South Island there is nothing in the Act or Treaty to show that the country is under any obligation to render free medical assistance to the well-to-do native, but for the indigent native there is no doubt as to our obligations, "On the other hand, in Hospital Boards are responsible for the treatment in their institutions of natives who pay no rates it is only fair that they should exercise some control over the native medical service. Under the old system hospital boards had co certain knowledge that medical treatment ror natives was provided. If the subsidies were handed over to hospital boards to administer, it is quits probable that the old grievance against admission cf natives to their institutions would disappear, and that under local control the native medical service would become more efficient. Under terms similar to the above district nurses have been appointed to work among the natives, and their work has been an unqualified success."