Health Commission Makes Survey in Rarotonga

Cook Islands Have A Housing Problem

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, June 30.

RAROTONGA was visited in June by a special health commission Dr.

J. C. R. Buchanan, the recently appointed Inspector-General, South Paci fic Medical Service, Suva; Dr. M. H. Watt, Director-General of Health, Wellington; and Miss M. I. Lambie, Director, Division of Nursing, Wellington.

Their stay was brief, but they were, nevertheless, able to make a fairly com prehensive tour of inspection and gather local opinions on pressing health mat ters. The tour of inspection included the hospital. TB sanatorium, schools, native housing, and swamps.

Besides the official discussions with administration and medical authorities, public views on health matters were re ceived at a meeting with the Island Coun cil., Some of the most urgent health matters presented for consideration were: The prevalence of filaria and the need for mosquito-cpntrol measures; the drainage of swamps (water collects in the low-lyuig areas between the hills and the coastal road forming mosquito-breeding swamps, and causing considerable damage to crops during heavy rains, and it is sug gested that these swamps could be drained by cuts to the sea, as has already been done in one area) better filter systems for the domestic water supply; and a sugges tion that the mountain catchment areas be taken over by the administration at a nominal .rental and fenced to prevent animals from straying near the intakes.

TUBERCULOSIS undoubtedly remains the most serious health problem in the Cook Islands.

For some time past there has been con siderable local concern over the fact that although a large sum of money has been spent on the erection of a sanatorium to treat a comparatively small number of advanced cases of TB, nothing had so far been done to attack the conditions which encourage it—that is. bad housing.

When this was mentioned at the Coun cil’s meeting with the commission. Dr.

Watt assured members that the greatest consideration was being given to this im portant question, and that improvements were on the way.

The matter of native housing is a dif ferent one. because here, once again, we are up against native habits and customs —always a formidable barrier to over come—plus the intricacies and jealousies of native land tenure, and the eternal island spirit of “Ariana”—or “never do to-day what you can put off till to morrow.”

Housing conditions are usually found at their worst in the little “squatter” settlements of outer islanders who make up a considerable proportion of Raro tonga’s population. Having no land of their own on the island, they crowd to gether in small lots usually in low-lying, damp areas as close as they can get to the main township.

Native building materials are cheap, and can be utilised to build quite charm ing, clean and airy houses of any size, suited to the climate and in keeping with the general scenic beauty of the place.

But leave a native to himself, and he will throw up the smallest possible shack into which he will pack his ever-growing family, together with any relations and visitors who care to pile in.

As the shack deteriorates and leans awry the owner never bothers to repair it or push it straight, but waits till it finally collapses in an extra strong breeze, then rebuilds from the ruins.

Some of the massive-walled, gloomy, dungeon-like coral-lime houses, built at a stage when the natives wished to emu late Europeans at any cost, have incu bated disease germs for generations, and are as great a menace to health as the shacks.

That native building materials can be used to build clean, orderly, even pic turesque houses, one may appreciate by a visit to the model village of the Seventh Day Adventist Mission at Titikaveka, Rarotonga.

Housing regulations are absolutely necessary. There are some enlightened souls to-day who feel that it is wrong to attempt to make native subjects do things, even for their own benefit. But when dealing with a people who are a peculiar combination of Europeanisation, stone age, and a variety of child-like stubbor ness, it is sometimes necessary to make them do things for their own good.

From half a mile off-shore Rarotonga looks a South Sea paradise, and with the advent of frequent aerial visitors, the legend of the charm and hospitality of the inhabitants is spreading far and wide.

The expenditure of a reasonable amount of money now, and an energetic cleaning up programme would put a little reality into the paradise, both for its native in habitants and for the post-war visitors who are sure to come.

MATTERS presented by the Island Council were sympathetically re ceived by the visitors. Assurances were given that every effort will be made to improve health conditions in Raro tonga.

Dr. E. P. Ellison, Chief Medical Officer for Rarotonga, accompanied the visitors on their departure. He will attend the forthcoming Pacific medical conference in Suva. During his absence his post -is being filled by Dr. E. Loten. Dr. C. M.

Dawson left Rarotonga by the same plane to take up his appointment as Medical Officer of Niue.