MAORI CHILD’S DEATH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 September 1941, Page 6

MAORI CHILD’S DEATH

CORONER ISSUES A WARNING. OBLIGATION ON PARENTS. , (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WAIROA, This Day. Strong comment and a warning by the Coroner, Mr V. E. Winter, were features of an inquest yesterday into the death of a three-year-old Maori child. Ngahoe Puhi Kaurauria, of To Reinga. The evidence showed that the child was taken to a tohunga instead of medical aid being sought. After hearing the evidence, Mr Winter said: “I am satisfied that there is nothing suspicious about the matter, but the parents were too long in sending for medical assistance. As I have pointed out before, especially at Te Reinga, it is no good waiting until the person is almost dead. Once I had a case of a man who was left until he was unconscious and then the district nurse was sent for, so that they could get out of it. When a child is in danger it is the plain duty of its parents to send for a doctor or the district nurse. They must do it and I will see' that they do it. If aid is not sent for they are responsible for the death. If it occurs again I will report the matter to the Minister of Justice. I know some Maoris have a dread of a doctor or nurse and go to tohungas instead. This is a final warning and, if medical ‘aid is not sought in future, I will report the matter to Wellington.” The verdict was that death was caused by convulsions, following upon pneumonia.