(D.) _Incidence among Maoris._

It is even more difficult than in the case of the European population to
say what is the prevalence of venereal diseases amongst Maoris. The
Director of the Division of Maori Hygiene (Dr. Te Rangi Hiroa) in a
statement to the Committee says:--

"Venereal disease made great ravages amongst the Maori population in the
early days of colonization. To this may be attributed much of the
sterility, with histories of repeated miscarriages, that existed in the
transitional period of Maori history. Most of the old men--hemiplegias,
and paraplegias, and subsequent general paralysis of the insane--gave an
old history of syphilis. These cases that I saw twenty years ago have
now disappeared.

"In my experience of eighteen years' constant work amongst the Maoris
venereal disease has been comparatively rare. It disappeared amongst the
people, only to recrudesce in some localities as fresh infection was
introduced by the white man, or brought back to the settlements by
visits to the white towns. I see very little of it at present, but now
and again hear reports from medical officers that it has cropped up in
the settlements near them ... In all these cases I am convinced that the
origin is from a white source, and the problem amongst the Maoris is not
nearly so serious as amongst Europeans. It seems to me unjust that the
idea should be circulated that the Maoris are a source of danger to the
European community--the reverse is much more likely.

"It is impossible for me to supply accurate data as to the incidence of
the disease amongst the Maori race at present, but I am confident that