CONTRASTS IN PHYSIQUE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 7, 8 July 1909, Page 8

CONTRASTS IN PHYSIQUE.

MAORI AND' PAKEHA. CARELESS TREATMENT OF BABIES. Some fairly extensive observations of Maori and Juiropean boys, from ten to .sixteen years of age, living in the same districts liave revealed some . interesting facts. At ten years the pakeha boy is taller than his Maori contemporary, but is lighter. Between fifteen and sixteen tile brown grows more quickly than the white, and at sixteen they are about the same height, but the Maori is a stono heavier. The Maori looks the sturdier youth at this time, but it is probable that in the power of refcistence to disease the Maori 16 much inferior to the European. Discussing Commander Blunts recent remarks about the physique of New Zealarders, a local medical man, well qualified to speak, said that though the general average of healthfulness and stuidiness must necessarily compare more than favourably with the standards of Englanr^ foi example, where large congested cities were a serious handicap, there vere influences and faults here likely t> have pernicious effects on the lising generation. "There is too much bad dieting, though not md much as in America," he said. "Here is an example of what I mean. It isgn infant out in the country. It should be healthy and strong, but is found to he sickly, peaky, and weak. You discover that the n.other is not nursing the baby herself, and it is fed, unintelligently, with various preparations. When the child gets a little bigger it lives on tea and tinned meat, and rubbish like that ; consequently it is ill-developed, and may eventually bo injured by overwork. If a boy is properly fed he will not be damaged by cairymg a pail of milk, but an ill-fed child may suffer. 1 ' This critic remarked that in passing tluough America one could not fail to be impressed by the number of sickly-look-ing weedy children, and for this lack of lobustne^s he blamed the lollies, the ices, and other sweets lavished on the youngster*. Similar unhealthy pampering was far too prevalent in New Zealand. Another authority remarked that many children were afflicted from spinal curvature, due to their mothers' carelessness. "Infants," ho declared, "are hawked a-bout too much. The poor little Ihings do not get enough rest. The mothers seem too impatient or too unintelligent to let their babies lie on their backs and kick. llie old-fashioned mothers are careful to give the babies rational rest and rational exercise, but very many of the modern mothers have not a proper regard for the tender little frames. The babies are 'bobbed about' and made to bit up on adults' knees or other places, long before their backs arc sufficiently fctiong. " The chairman of the Masterton Fire Boaid (Mr. D. I'ragnell) waited on the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. D. Buddo) this afternoon in reference to the site in Queen-street, Masterton, on which the Board pioposes to erect the now Fire Brigade Station. The tost -£ the land is £1820, and the site is considered to* be eminently suitable for the purpose. Tho sum of £750 is in hand for the purchase. The Act, however, while it allows, a board to purchase a site, does not pet mi t it to mortgage the site when acquired, so as to enable it to erect buildings and cany out oilier necessary works, without the consent of the Minister. The Hon. D. Budclo considered that Die cost of the proposed site was too high, in pioportiou to the cost of Ihe building, and it was nearly treble the cost of another sile which the Fire Inspector considered more suitable. It was in Essex-street, and could be procured for about £750. Mr. Pra'gnell said the Essex-street site would only be suitable if a road was cut through to tap Queen-street, but theie was no chance of that ever being done. The contributors had unanimously voted another £500, towards the cost/ having I in view the Queen-street site. The board was unanimous on the subject of the Queen-street site. The Minister said he would have another report drawn up on the subject, and he would finally decide in the course of the next fortnight. The Marine Department has been advised by Captain Bollons, of the Hinemoa, that one of the timber-punts that broke adrift on Monday from Hokianga has drifted ashore at a spot about ten miles south of South Head, Kaipara. The other punt is still at large. Mr. Justice CJmpniim will ait in-Ohaai-bers to-morrow at 10.30 a.m.