REOPENING OF SCHOOLS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14572, 16 January 1948, Page 3

REOPENING OF SCHOOLS

QUESTION

NOT YET

DECIDED

DISCUSSIONS TO BE HELD SHORTLY

(P.A.) Auckland, today. Although the Auckland Grammar School Board has advertised that its schools will resume on February 3, subject to the approval of the Health Department, the opening dates for both primary and secondary schools have yet to be considered in Wellington by the health and education authorities. The Director-General of Health, Dr T. R. Ritchie, said that discussions on the subject'would be held shortly. It was probable that the decision of the Minister of Health, Miss Howard, whether the schools would resume on the normal February dates would be announced within the next fortnight. Dr Ritchie said the incidence of infantile paralysis was normally at its peak during the late summer and autumn. During the 1936-37 epidemic, which began in Dunedin, 8G cases were reported in December. The figures dropped from 70 in January to 55 in February, but in the autumn, after the schools had reopened, a substantial increase was recorded. This and other experience would have to be considered in reaching a decision on reopening the schools.