PHYSIQUE AND TEETH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1145, 5 June 1911, Page 4

PHYSIQUE AND TEETH.

THE NEW ZEALANDER OF TO-DAY.

(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, Juno L Tho comments of Captain Stopford, of H.M.S. Pioneer, and tho surgeon of the cruiser on the' physique of tho young New Zcalander were the subject of tin interview which a "Herald" reporter had with a well-known Auckland medical man whose work brings him in close contact with tho youth of Auckland. The doctor remarked, at tho outset, that there was no doubt that the teeth of tho young men in the Dominion were bad. It was rare to find a good set of teeth. "In fact," he . added, "during the .17 years that I have examined young men for insurance companies, I can only recollect two cases where the teeth have been perfect."

Tho statement of tho surgeon of the Pioneer regarding tho exceptionally large number of cases of "twisted backs" in New Zealand was described by tho medical man as "absolutely absurd." It was nonsense to say that scoliosis was abnormal in New Zealand. "Taken all round," he said, "tho average Now Zcalander is taller and has a bigger chest than' the average youth of tho same ago in Britain, but tho tendency is for tho height to be greater in proportion to the chest. In England it was well known that different parts of the country presented great differences as regards measurements, but in New Zealand there .was not the same difference, because the population is distinctly mixed."

"I agree with the remarks about the teeth of young New Zealanders," remarked Mr. Tibbs, headmaster of the Grammar School, when approached on the matter. "Sufficient care 'ot the teuth is not taken. I notice a great many boys at the Grammar School with bad teeth, and I havo to speak to them about it. Many boys suffer from toothache, and it is a constant cause of absence from school."

Regarding the general physique, Mr. Tibbs thought that tho boys of Auckland were quite equal to any that he had seen in other parts of the Empire. Out of 540 boys on the Grammar School roll at present only five were debarred from joining the cadet corps owing to physical defects. A great number of the boys, he said, wero fine, sturdy lads. "I havo not noticed much indication of 'twisted backs'," continued Mr. Tibbs. "I think, however, that the Auckland boys are not good walkers, and walking is one of the best exercises, for they ride too much in tramcars. This no doubt is due to tho influence of tho climate."