CHILD WELFARE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 151, 23 December 1935, Page 10

CHILD WELFARE

WOEK IN ENGLAND

GREAT PROGRESS MADE

DR. PATTERSON'S VISIT

An investigation of modern developments in child" welfare, particularly so far as school hygiene is concerned, was carried out by Dr. Ada Patterson, of Wellington, during a nine months' trip abroad. Dr. Patterson was one of the New Zealand .Government's delegates at the International Labour Conference held this year in Geneva, and at the conclusion of the conference she spent a considerable time in England inquiring into child welfare work. She returned today" by the Maunganui from Sydney. Among the many activities which Dr. Patterson investigated were these concerned with under-nourished children, cripples, and those suffering from defective hearing, and the mentally deficient or psychologically abnormal. In this regard she worked a great deal with officers of the Ministry of Health and the County Council. She visited all the main centres of work and paid particular attention to the depressed areas. It was very pleasing to note the great progress that had been' made generally in child welfare, she told a "Post" reporter. The question jof nutrition was receiving a great deal of attention, and in her investigation on this subject'she visited the Rowett Institute in Aberdeen, of which Sir John Orr, who recently visited New Zealand* was ,the director. A 1 lot of time was being devoted to the study of selection and the preparation of foods for the masses. . Dr. Patterson was very interested in the work being done for crippled chEdren, and she communicated with the central association ; for the care of cripples on the subject, and visited several institutions carrying out welfare work for cripples. Very wide activities were carried out throughout England in order to locate crippled children and, to arrange for their treatment and care. It was very necessary that this should be done in their early yearsi While in Switzerland Dr., Patterson visited the famous Rollier.. Institute at Lausanne, where sunlight treatment for delicate children was one of the principal features. In England she visited Alton" and Carshalton where, also, considerable, use was made of sunlight in the treatment of delicate children. A striking feature in England was the extension of the open-air movement, the practice being applied to schools, holiday camps, and hospitals. - ■' .v ... ..." GRATIFYING FEATURE. "Since my last visit to England thirteen years ago," said Dr. Patterson, "I noticed a definite improvement in the physical .condition of school children in the poorer quarters, particularly in London. This, no doubt, is due to the fact that complete facilities exist fpr1 combating the detrimental effects of faulty nourishment. More'remains to be done, but I am very gratified to say a great deal has been done." The provision of clean and hygienic homes for workers was a great feature of the building activity throughout England, continued Dr. Patterson. One authority a to whom she spoke stated that about one thousand houses ;a .day w/ere being erected- in Great Britain. She could not definitely vouch for that statement, however. The result of this building programme was that the.slum areas in a great' many places were being wiped out and. people were being shifted to a better environment on the outskirts of the!cities. Reverting to child welfara. Dr. Patterson said that she was assured by health authorities" in" England that during the last twenty years the gen-eral-standard of nutrition among school children had improved considerably. Extensive provision existed for giving meals to school children, literally millions of meals being provided .in the course of ; a year. The meals were given free, but ,in some instances, where parents "could afford to pay, .a charge of from 3d to 5d was levied fore each meal. This work was assisted by a free distribution of milk, an adequate Government grant enabling this scheme to be one of the most .valuable iri the welfare work for children. School medical authorities had power to order free meals, free milk, or, in some cases, cod ,liver oil. Today children jin the poorer districts were also much better clothed, and this was due to the semi-voluntary, organisations of health and education authorities. Dr. Patterson said that she was-much impressed by the friendly feeling that the people of x England had for New Zealanders. Also,^ a striking- feature was the intense patriotism -and personal affection the people held for the Royal Family. ' / ■'■■'■