FREE MILK IN SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22774, 7 July 1937, Page 15

FREE MILK IN SCHOOLS

STUDYING THE RESULTS DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN [bt TELEGRAPH —OWN" correspondent] OPOTIKI, Tuesday An interesting experiment in connection with the free supply of milk to schoolchildren is being carried out in the Opotiki, Gisborne and Wairoa districts. The district medical officer for health, Dr. Ellen Haycock, has visited the Opotiki District High School and measured and weighed a number of pupils. This has been done with a view to examining the benefits that it is hoped will be derived by children as a result of the free distribution of milk.

By noting these features now, before the inauguration of the scheme, and again in a few months' time, it will be possible to gain some idea of the extent to which the individual children are benefiting. Before coming to Opotiki Dr. Haycock took measurements at the Gisborne Central. Kaiti, Tc Hapara and Mangapapa schools, pupils in one of the primers and standards two and four being measured and weighed. It will be some time before the scheme is in operation in Opotiki and before this is commenced Dr. Haycock will revisit Opotiki and take further measurements.

ORANGES IN LIEU OE MILK MAT A MAT A S UGG ESTION [BY TELKCItAini—OWN COHKESPONDKNT] MATAMATA, Tuesday Recently the Matamata School Committees' Association debated the question of a free milk supply for schoolchildren, but found that there were almost insuperable difficulties in the way which prevented the carrying out of the Government's proposal. As a result of a suggestion that an issue of oranges would be preferable tor schoolchildren in such a dairying district as Matamata. it was decided to get the views of individual on the whole question. The replies, which were considered at this month's meeting of the association, were overwhelmingly in favour of oranges. Following a discussion. during which a strong feeling was evident that the attention of the .Minister of Education and Health should be drawn to the matter, it was decided that this be done.