DEATHS AMONG MAORIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1922, Page 5

DEATHS AMONG MAORIS.

CAUSES OF HEAVY TOLL. CHILDREN BADLY FED. The heavy death rate among Maori children was discussed at the conference of the Native School Teachers’ Association at Auckland. Mr. G. M. Henderson, inspector of native schools, said it was lamentable to find what a large proportion of Maoris died before they reached 20 years of age. The trouble was largely due to improper feeding of children. The latter were given unsuitable food, which rendered them predisposed to such diseases as tuberculosis.

Dr. P. Buck, director of Maori hygiene, said it was highly desirable that the Maoris should realise better than they did the importance of human life. A pamphlet on feeding for babies was printed in English and Maori, and the department had tried to impress on native nurses that their aim was health promotion. Bad feeding and bad clothing were the main troubles, and in these lay the foundation of a life of illness.

The question, of the post-mortem examination was important, continued Dr. Buck. An effort had been made to get the village health committees imbued with a pride in the health of the village and investigate causes of death; it was known that deaths sometimes occurred unnecessarily. The people were asked to record deaths immediately with the village schoolmasters or the nearest registrars. It was not desirable to press the question, of compulsory post-mortem examinations at present.