MALNUTRITION AMONG SCHOOLCHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 149, 19 March 1936, Page 10

MALNUTRITION AMONG SCHOOLCHILDREN

Investigation Committee REQUEST TO MINISTER BY EDUCATION BOARD To investigate the extent to which malnutrition and undernourishment prevail among primary schoolchildren, the Minister of Education, Hon. P. Fraser, is to be asked to appoint a national committee representative of education and hospital hoards and the Health Department. The Wellington Education Board made this decision nt a meeting last night. At a meeting of the board several months ago .Mr. L. J. McDonald presented figures he had collected showing the extent to which malnutrition existed in some Wellington schools. It was decided then to set up a special committee to deal with the matter and report to the board. Last night the following recommendation of the committee was .adopted :— “That as an investigation of the position in regard to malnutrition and undernourishment in our schools cannot be adequately investigated with the facilities aud means at our disposal, we recommend that representations be made to the Minister of Education urging upon him the necessity of appointing an investigation committee representative of education boards, hospital boards, and the Health Department, concerning the extent to which undernourishment and malnutrition exist and the remedial measures necessary to meet the tion.”It was also decided to send copies of the recommendation to Dr. Macdonald Wilson, Dr. C. G. Kemp, ahd Hi. Wellington Hospital Board asking for their co-operation.