CHILD NUTRITION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22436, 24 June 1938, Page 10

CHILD NUTRITION

Doctors’ Request To Minister INVESTIGATION SOUGHT “Time Thought To Be Opportune” [THE PRESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, June 23. Child nutrition was discussed by the Minister for Health (the Hon. P. Fraser), in an interview this evening, when the Minister intimated that he had received a letter from the New Zealand council of the British Medical Association asking that an investigation into the question of infant nutrition in New Zealand should be carried out under the direction of the Medical Research Council. The Minister said that he was favourable towards the request, as he thought the time was opportune for an investigation; but at the same time he paid a tribute to the work of the Plunket Society, and said that it would be regrettable if anything were done or said to detract from its services to the Dominion. A letter from the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association stated that at its meeting on June 8 the council had discussed the question of infant nutrition, as the result of a remit from the Wellington division. It was felt by some members, who had given the matter thought and study, that changing views, and the rapid advances of knowledge in regard to nutrition in general, and to infant nutrition in particular, warranted some sort of investigation or “stock taking” in regard to this important matter. Association’s Resolution It was felt that this was a question which concerned the medical profession and the Plunket Society almost equally, and the council felt that some form of investigation would be welcomed as much by the society as by the association’s members. The Medical Research Council, established by the Minister, was, the council thought, a suitable body to initiate and direct the work. It had been decided that the following resolution. should be forwarded; — “That the association requests the Minister for Health to initiate an investigation into the question of infant nutrition in New Zealand, under the direction of the Medical Research Council.’ ’ It was understood from the actingmedical adviser to the Plunket Society, Dr. E. H. Williams, of Dunedin, the letter continued, that the medical advisory committee to the society would co-operate fully in such investigations, and would be happy to make available the society’s wide experience. Before the resolution was communicated to the Minister, a statement on the resolution, which did not come from the association, appeared in the press. This gave the impression that the resolution was based on adverse criticism of the society’s work. This was not the case, and nothing in the resolution was intended or could be inferred as an attack on the society. The Minister said that he was favourable towards the request of the association that an investigation into the question of infant nutrition in New Zealand should be undertaken, and he agreed that it should be carried out under the direction of the Medical Research Council. The council hod f.ppointed a committee, .of which Professoi* Malcolm was convener, to investigate the nutrition problem in New Zealand, and the subject of infant nutrition obviously was part and parcel of the general problem. Praise for Plunket Society “The wonderfully beneficial work of the Society,” the Minister continued, “has received world-wide recognition, and it would be regrettable if anything should be done or said that would detract from its value or unjustifiably lessen confidence in the work, or in the excellent methods of the society. At the same time, 1 have been inf%irmed by the president of the Plunket Society, Mrs J. Begg, that'the officers and executive council of the society would welcome any investigation by a committee, the personnel of which would be thoroughly competent, and imbued with the true scientific spirit. “Personally, I agree that it would be fatal to take up the attitude that we already know all there is to be known on the question of child nutrition. or that in the light of extending knowledge it is impossible to improve the Plunket system of infant nutrition. “I therefore think the time is opportune,” Mr Fraser continued, “for the investigation suggested by the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association. And no doubt it will be investigated under the direction of the Medical Research Council. At the same time I would point cut that the Plunket Society’s methods have accomplished an enormous amount for the children of the Dominion, and until such time as the deficiencies in its nutrition system are definitely established, it would be regrettable if the society's work should suffer unnecessarily from possibly unjustifiable criticism.”