MAORI HYGIENE PLANS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 938, 3 April 1930, Page 8

MAORI HYGIENE PLANS

MINISTER TO CONSIDER PROBLEMS POSITION WITH ASIATICS A definite move in its efforts to have improvements made in the conduct of Maori hygiene work in Auckland Province v/as made by the Akarana Maori Association yesterday afternoon, when a deputation approached the Minister of Health the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy. Mr. Stallworthy gave as his view to j the deputation that the suggestion to retransfer the Maori hygiene office to I Auckland, its logical centre, was highly j important. He was aware of the ad- j vantages of Auckland as the centre of j Maori hygiene, and was interested in the question of obstetrics and the extensive campaign in that direction Mr. James Rukutai, chairman of the association, Mr. George Graham and Mr. Keiha Xewton formed the deputation. Mr. Rukutai asked for consideration of these proposals: (a) Revision of the Health Department’s district into smaller areas to allow more efficient supervision in Maori hygiene. (b) The appointment of special inspectors and nurses for the City and the suburbs bounded by New L> nn, West Tamaki, Mangere and Takapuna, for the Hauraki district, with Thames as centre, for the Waikato, with Hamilton as centre, and for the coast between Kawhia and Port Waikato, with Raglan as centre. (c) Proficiency in Maori conversation among the inspectors and the nurses, to allow more satisfactory con- i tact with the natives. NATIVE 03STETRICS (d) The paying of special attention to native obstetrics, to counteract the increase in maternal mortality. (e) The stationing at Auckland of a Maori hygiene staff, not to be merged in the ordinary work of the department. ( f) More permanent location of the officers. Frequent changes in recent years had affected efficiency. (g) The retransfer of the Maori Hygiene Section from Wellington to Auckland. Most of the Maori population lived in Auckland Province. (h) Immediate investigation into the present conditions of the employment of Maori women on the cultivations of Chinese and Indians. Although the Committee of Inquiry into Maori-Asia-tie miscegenation made recommendations last November, these had not been carried out. Referring to maternal mortality among the Maoris,, Mr. Rukutai said the increase was probably due to changed living conditions. Full consideration of the problems was promised by the Minister. He had not been aware that the Maori-Asiatic recommendations had not been put into operation. The position would be investigated on his return to Wellington, and he would endeavour to appoint officers to supervise the places of employment of Maori women.