MAORIS AND NURSING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 709, 8 July 1929, Page 11

MAORIS AND NURSING

MORE TRAINING URGED i IN AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION’S WORK More facilities should be available for the training of young Maori women in hospitals and dental clinics. 'T'HIS opinion was given out at Te Akarana Maori Association’s weekly discussion. Dr. E. P. Ellison, Director of Maori Hygieue, was present, and speeches were made on the possibility of a recurrence of the recent disastrous outbreak of dysentery. It is held that trained Maori nurses would be in closer touch with Maori families, some of which are not ready to seek European aid. Maori nurses’ work would be acceptable in the ! native districts. Another movement, now widespread j in New Zealand, the consolidation of ; native interests, was under review. In North Auckland about 300 native families are concerned in supplying : creameries from 5,000 head of dairy ! ; cattle, and arrangements such as this j elsewhere are considered desirable. AFFORESTATION’S VALUE Afforestation in native lands at present waste •was discussed. Many Maoris are employed in Government and private afforestation schemes, and association members consider that similar schemes applied on Maori holdings could become a valuable endowment system. Once again the association has before it the practice in the Pensions Department of not paying to natives full old age pensions, on the assumption that the wants of Maoris are simpler. The association has had cases where scattered native land holdings, of practically no value, have been taken into account in computing pension payments. The payment of full amounts to Europeans living in houses of considerable value has been pointed to as a contrast.