265
somewhat similar would follow upon its in-
troduction into these islands; and that a most
interesting race of men just emerging from
barbarism, would, under the breath of this
fatal disease, be added to the long list of
coloured races, who have disappeared before
the advancing footstep of the colonist.

They have in evidence from good authority,
that not more than one tenth of the native
inhabitants of the Northern Island, comprising
nearly the whole of the native population
have received the protection of vaccination.
They deem it a paramount duty on the part of
the European colonists of the country, to
extend to the Maori people, that protection
which they have themselves received, and
owe to their superior civilization. And they
may be allowed, perhaps, to add, that no cir-
cumstancce ould more suitably inaugurate the
era of Representative Government, or tend
more surely to establish it in the confidence of
the Native inhabitants, than a measure like
this, which should unanswerably demonstrate
to them that their health, even their existence
is an object of anxious solicitude to their
white brethren.

In considering the speediest and most prac-
ticable means of vaccinating the Natives, your
Committee have not been met by any diffi-
culty arising out of objections or disincli-
nation on the part of the Natives themselves.
They are led to believe on the other hand,
that the Natives already are partly acquainted
with the objects of vaccination and anxious
to avail themselves of the protection, it affords.

The enquiry of your Committee was there-
fore narrowed almost entirely to a considera-
tion of the agency by which it can be most
widely and rapidly accomplished. The existence
of a large number of Missionaries of different
denominations in various parts of the country,
established originally for the purpose of con-
verting the native people to Christianity, and
at all times zealous in the promotion of any
thing calculated to advance their welfare, of
course, suggested itself to your Committee;
and they feel assnred, that in promoting so
good a work us this, the House may reckon
with confidence on the active and cheerful co-
operation of the Missionaries of all creeds
throughout New Zealand.

A second agency, and one directly under the
control of the Government, exists in the var-
ious Colonial Surgeons throughout the country
whose services in the cause would be most
valuable, not only in actively themselves vac-
cinating the Natives, but also by acting as
instructors to the Missionaries, and by supply-
ing them from time to time with lymph and
proper instruments. But in order to give
unity of design and completeness to the work
contemplated, and with a view to carrying it out
hereafter among the Maori children, your com-
mittee would recommend that a Central Board
should be established whose duty it should be
to superintend and promote vaccination through-
out the Colony, and they think that such
Board might consist of the Native Secretary
the Colonial Surgeon, of the Heads of the
various Missionary Bodies and of such other
persons as His Excellency might consider quali-
fied to give advice or assistance. And they
are of opinion that until the natives generally
have been vaccinated, two professional vacci-
nators should be sent among them to travel about
and operate upon all who are willing to sub-
mit to it. These professional vaccinators might
also visit the different Mission stations, supply-
ing them with lymph and instruments, and
giving instruction were required.

To prepare the natives for the visits of these
gentlemen, and induce them to avail themselves
of their services your Committee are of opin-
ion that a short treatise on Small Pox and
Vaccination should be printd in the Maori
tongue and circulated amongst them as widely
as possible, and they venture to suggest that
it might produce the best effect upon the Na-
tive mind if they were given to understand,
that it was the result of the solicitude of the
Representatives of New Zealand for their
health and welfare. But what ever may be
decided upon with reference to this question,
your Committee venture to express an earnest
hope that it-may be done speedily and as com-
pletely as possible.

It must be obvious that the great facilities
of inter-communication which now exist be-
tween different parts of the world, while at-
tended with incalculable advantage to the best
interest of mankind, at the same time, and by
the same reason have a tendency to propagate
disease. The appearance of contagious diseases
of every description is therefore a thing which
may be looked for at any time, and against
which every prudent precaution ought to be
taken. Should small pox be introduced into
New Zealand before the Natives are protected
its ravages may be expected to be fearful;
nor could the disease be general or fatal among
the natives without its violence falling in
some measure upon the white population.
Every consideration therefore urges us to the
step of protecting the natives by means of a
general system of vaccination.

In the complete carrying out of such a mea-
sure not only is our own safety involved, but
our character, as an offshoot from that great
Country which claims in her treatment of the
barbarous peoples over whom in different parts
of her Empire she rules, the preeminence of
justice and humanity.

July 14th, 1854.

ROBERT HART,
Chairman.

Auckland :-Printed by WILLIAMSON and WILSON, for the Provincial Government.