The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1930 THE HEALTH OF THE MAORIS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 922, 15 March 1930, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1930 THE HEALTH OF THE MAORIS

of the interesting humanitarian activities of the New ** Zealand Government is the work conducted among the Maoris by the Maori Hygiene Branch of the Public Health Department. This is a work which the white population may watch with pardonable pride. Through its extension among tribes and sub-tribes which have come only moderately under the influence of European customs, the fear that the Maoris were a declining race has been checked. The Maori population has now, as a matter of fact, been for many years increasing, though the increase is partly accounted for by the dilution of native blcod through mixed marriages, half-castes being classified as Maoris in the census reports. As with nearly all native races thrown suddenly into contact with civilised peoples, and introduced through that association to physical dangers hitherto strange to them, the Maoris for a considerable period last century showed a decline in numbers. Early attempts to conduct a census among them were attended by much difficulty. A census in 1857-58 gave their numbers as 56,049, but it could not be pretended that this record was at all accurate. Many of the tribes were, at that period, unfriendly to the white race, and in any ease the attempts of census takers to secure estimates of the population must have been accompanied by a good deal of cheerful mendacity. The next census in 1874 showed a decline to 45,470. This, too, had few pretensions to accuracy. After their defeat in the Waikato wars, many of the tribes had retreated sullenly into the King Country, and from their forbidden fastnesses beyond the Puniu were indifferent to the well-meant efforts of the census officials. By 1896, when a reasonably accurate survey was made, the numbers of the Maoris had shown a serious falling-off. Against the incomplete return of 56,049, in 1857, the figure now was under 40,000. Diseases introduced by the whites ha'd exacted a heavy, toll, and with the exception of diphtheria, it was plain that epidemic and infectious diseases generally were more fatal among the Maoris than among the general population. To counteract the decline, it was necessary first to promulgate hygienic Ideals among the natives. In the conditions under which they lived, they often had little chance of withstanding the ravages of epidemics. Before the advent of the white man, occasional visitations are thought to have carried off thousands of the Maori population, but, until they came under European influence, their healthy outdoor life balanced these losses. Largely through the influence of the Division of Native Hygiene, a better standard of health has been promoted, so that in a little over thirty years the Maori and half-caste population has risen from 39,000 to 65,693. Little by little, old prejudices have been broken down. Maori Health Councils have been set up, and even where the conservatism of tribal elders forbade the intrusion of modern medical science, the persuasions of younger and progressive spirits among the natives helped to break down the resistance. The result is now that, throughout the country, Maori villages, no matter how remote and inaccessible, are regularly surveyed and a check kept on their health. In addition to the departmental inspectors and nurses, devoted men and women in the service of various missions carry on their labours in the villages, and with their knowledge of nursing are? a great help in maintaining the health of the inhabitants. The extent to which the Maoris now rely on attention from the Maori Hygiene Division is shown by the appeal submitted through the Akarana Maori Association for a resident nurse for the Kawhia-Ragian district, where the native hamlets do not have the benefit of regular attendances. At the same time, the association makes a complaint against delays that have occurred in the administration of the division. Two years ago the headquarters of the division was transferred from Auckland to "Wellington, and the results—as we predicted at the time—have no't proved satisfactory. Over 45,000 of the 65,000 Maoris in the Dominion are located in the Auckland Province, and a great many of those are north of Auckland. In the circumstances the transfer of headquarters to Wellington was a palpable error of judgment. Great care should he taken that there is no falling off in the efficiency of the division. The justification for the maintenance and extension of its services is just as great now as was the warrant for its initiation. The old passive resistance of large sections of Maoris, though dying, is still encountered. Partly through the influence of such movements as the Ratana cult, co-operation has at times been withheld, and concealment of sickness coupled with refusal to accept treatment has had adverse effects. In spite of these handicaps, the Maori Hygiene Division perseveres with its work, raising the standards of living, inducing Maoris to install sanitary appliances, and subsidising water-supply systems. In all these and many other phases its work deserves respect and public support.