A MAORI NURSE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 198, 19 February 1914, Page 7

A MAORI NURSE.

DEPARTMENTAL DELAYS. Ml!. MACRKYXOI.DS (M'F.AKS. Sonic months ago the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board decided to take steps to provide a nurse for the Maoris in and around Opunake, on conilitiun that the Maoris and settlers gave financial assistance. Mr. MacReynolds ap|iealed to tlie .Maoris with great success, a nurse who applied for the position was informed that she had received it, and a proposal was on foot to secure accommodation for her, but the Hospital Board lias not received any delinite information from the Health Department as to the position of all'airs. which have lately been shrouded in mystery.

At the, Board's meeting yesterday Mr. Maeßeynolds brought the matter u]), discussing it with not a little force. The Hoard had, hj« said, placed the matter in his hands on the understanding that if the settlers would find six months' salary and obtain a nurse the Board would find the other six months' salary. He had obtained a guarantee of two years' salary, and lie wanted the Board to do its share. At this stage a letter was read from one of the. leading Maoris of the district, complaining that the nurse was ready to start, but no accommodation was provided for her. The Department had sent a bird, but no cage. Mr. Maeßeynolds said he was sorry to say so, but he considered the Department had displayed a lack of courtesy in the matter. He had found quarters for the nurse which could he purchased but not rented, and the natives had handed over a cheque for £IOO, but nothing had been done. The house would have served temporarily until a permanent nursing home, to accommodate both the native nurse and the district nurse, could be erected. The owner of the house had heard that the scheme had heen turned dawn, and had promptly sold it elsewhere. Moreover, the cheque given by Mr. Run Bishop had been stopped. This was all due to what Dr. Valintine had saW when he was approached with regard to the house he had just referred to. The nurse had nevertheless been told that she was appointed to the position. Dr. Valintine had taken the matter completely out the speaker's hands. Since then, Mr. Maeßeynolds continued, he had asked the Maoris to contribute towards the cost of a horse and trap for the nurse, but they had refused. He had since found out that they had contributed £6 to the district nurse fund. He had told them that this was a mistake and that he would get the money back, but they would not hear of it. A report was then read from tiie Maori nurse (Nurse Muir) stating that Dr. Valintine had told her she was duly appointed, and had asked her to work round the district before selecting a centre. She had commenced work on February fl, and since then had visited the pahs and native villages, including l'arihaka. She had worked through from Opunake to Warea and although the villages were fairly clean, there were no sanitary arrangements and indications, which she detailed, were not wanting to show that a nurse was needed among the Maoris. She had delivered lectures to Maori mothers on various matters connected with the health of themselves and their children. She would require a list of the native schools in the district, and of the European schools at which Maori children were being taught. She thought that her most convenient headquarters would be at Opunake. She was at prosent lifting with her parents, but this was not at all satisfactory. The secretary stated that the Department had not notified him of Nurse Muir's appointment, but he had, nevertheless, sent her the surgical appliances which she had asked for.

Mr. Maeßeynolds again stated that Dr. Valintinc had acted discourteously towards liim, and gave notice to move at the next meeting of the Hoard that the resolution placing the matter iit his hands be rescinded. He had said once before that Dr. Valintine was not an limpeetor-Oneral, but a Director-Gene-ral.

Tlic chairman said that discourtesy was not characteristic of Dr. Valintinc,

It was eventually decided that the matter of hurrying up the. Department should be left to the chairman, and that Mr. Maelteynolds be authorised to tell his committee that the Hoard will pay half the. rent, not exceeding CI, of a cottage to accommodate both the Opunake district nurse ami the ivative nurse.