BACKBLOCKS PARDSHIPS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10578, 8 March 1912, Page 4

BACKBLOCKS PARDSHIPS.

The Press Association sends us a report of harrowing stories that were told to a special meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board by a deputation of back-block settlers from the King Country recently, in asking that a doctor and nurses be supplied. Instances were given of where a woman in confinement suffered terribly from want of medical attention, and where, on occasions, assistance of male relatives only could he obtained. One story was told of a woman who was carried iby her men folk eight miles to the nearest railway point, where -she was placed en a velocipede and conveyed miles to medical aid. Another tale was told of a woman near confinement setting forth alone to walk eight miles, in the depth of winter, over terrible country, to a junction, in order to get a conveyance to take her to a .place where she could get medical assistance. She left the young children at home with her husband, and proceeded some miles until dusk was coming on, when, -utterly fagged, she sat down in despair in a wild part of the country, unable to proceed further. Fortunately, a horseman happened along, and found the woman Ibeneath a tree, preparing to remain there throughout the dreary night. There were other stories equally appalling. Ifc was stated that nobody except those living there could realise the dreadful experiences of women whom fate had ordained should spend their lives in the back-blocks in certain districts, forty-five miles from a railway station, and with bad roads. The Board is taking into consideration the sending of district nurses.