FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16404, 26 December 1918, Page 7

FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

PROPOSED COMPULSORY

CLASHES.

On Tuesday Mr J. B. Finlay, secre-. tary oi the St. John Ambulance Association, Wellington Centre, called upon the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister or Jiklucation, with reference to a statement made by the Minister that he had under consideration the question v of establishing evening classes for courses of instruction in physiology, first aid, homo hygien», home nursing, and laws for safeguarding the health of industrial workers, and making attendance compulsory for young people between the ages of, say, 10 and 17 years. Mr Hanan, in reply, said he had received communications from other parts ,of New Zealand urging him to take tlie step that had been referred to. Before determining to establish such classes there were a number of details that would • require •to be carefully considered. The classes, if brought into operation, might be hold in some of the primary and secondary Schools in the erehings. The Minister thought that perhaps one night a week for a period of six months might be sufficient for the first year. He gathered from Mr Finlay's remarks that lecturers and demonstrators would 'be easily -' procurable. The classes, if established, would apply to those not attending secondary schools or receiving evening instruction at technical schools. Mr Hanan said lie was anxious to reach those young peo{>le who had left, school, and whose eisure time was not being profitably spent. Whether instruction in sex hygiene v should also be given was a matter which was engaging his serious consideration. He was at present gathering certain information, and after the hoped for the consideration of Cabinet definite proposals for the putting into operation of a scheme at an early date.