CHILDREN’S HEALTH

Evening Star, Issue 22084, 18 July 1935, Page 5

CHILDREN’S HEALTH

INVESTIGATION OF HOME CONDITIONS [Pa United Fuh Association.] WELLINGTON, July 17. A proposal that the Education Board should institute an investigation into the question as to what extent, if any, malnutrition exists amongst children attending schools under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Education Board, and if found _ necessary recommend action for ensuring that there shall be no malnutrition of any child attending the schools was made by Mr T. W. M'Don,ald at a meeting of the Education Board to-day. Mr M'Donald said that the existing state 1 of affairs vyas far from satisfactory. Investigations already made in 21 schools ..under the board’s jurisdiction—schools ranging in attendance rolls from 126 to 64£L—showed that 1,030 children were suffering from malnutrition. Added to that state of affairs was the fact that 394 of them had insufficient clothing. The Chairman (Mr W. V. Dyer) said that the 21 schools mentioned were probably the worst. They had been chosen for a preliminary investigation on the grounds that in them the worst conditions would probably be found. They therefore, could not bo looked upon as providing average figures for th» whole district. After further discussion the board resolved to appoint a committee to inquire as to the extent, if at all, to which home conditions were adversely affecting the physical, mental, and moral development of children attending schools, particularly those situated in the. poorer localities.