DIET DEMONSTRATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 116, 19 May 1938, Page 10

DIET DEMONSTRATION

CHILDREN'S TEETH

REPLY JO CRITICISM

A reply to statements made by some speakers at the meeting of the Wellington Education Board yesterday, when the Smith Family asked lor pepmission to carry out a demonstration*in diet school children, wa» made on behalf of the Smith Family today. , In a statement to "The Post," Secretary Smith said that when the scheme providing for milk for school children was established on a. national basis, the Smith Family, with a view to further improvement in the; health of children decided, after., consultation with the Director of Dental Hygiene, to conduct a demonstration in diet t» show that dental caries could be pre* vented and arrested.

"The demonstration will be conducted under the control of the Director of Dental Hygiene, and the only part taken by the Smith Family will be the organisation of the purchase of suitable food, and the cooking and serving of meals," he said. "It should be noted that the food material will be drawn from national sources, and will be available for any home. The cooking is quite simple and well within the capabilities of the housewife; in fact, it is so simple that the meals will be prepared by school children under the supervision of a cookery teacher. The Technical College authorities have prepared menu's ahd recipes based on instruction from Dr. Weston Price, an American dental surgeon, who has made world-wide investigations into the cause, prevention, and cure of dental caries.

"The Education Board, which hS» always been to the front in matters affecting the health of children— notably in the establishment of the milk-for-children scheme —was approached for permission -to conduct ths demonstration in its schools, and the use of thW manual training centre at Mgunt Cook. At the last meeting, the board very generously acceded t» the request of the Smith Family. "No difficulty is anticipated from the children's parents, who will be asked to co-operate in carrying out the demonstration, the cost of 'which, it should be rioted, will be borne by • special grant made for the specific pur* pose, and not from the general fundi of the Smith Family. The demonstration will not cost the Edil'cation Board, the school committee, or the children one penny, and the routine of the school will not be interfered with ia any respect;" -