YOUNG NEW ZEALAND

Evening Star, Issue 22085, 19 July 1935, Page 6

YOUNG NEW ZEALAND

HEALTH AND PHYSIQUE STUDIES DR CURSOR EXAGGERATING BUT STANDARD LOWER ISPECIAX. TO THE * StAß.’l AUCKLAND, July 18. Surprise was expressed this morning by Mr H. J. D. Mahon, head master of the Auckland Grammar School, at tho statement by Dr E. B. Gunson yesterday that “ already wo are a B grade people physically, with all tho sighs of increasing degeneration.” Mr Mahon, as first assistant and then principal of the school, can speak authoritatively and comparatively as to the physicpie of thousands of boys who have passed through his hands. “ Our experience has been that there dreg attending school* He described

is a great improvement in the health of the boys since those born during the war and epidemic years have passed out of the school,” he said. “There was certainly a weakness amongst the war babies, but to-day the general health and physique of the scholars are far better than they were. Ido not think that in the history of the school there has been such a large number of wellbuilt boys attending. We find that most of the eases ot ill-health are due to bad diet, the eating of too many sweets and too much starchy food. When that is remedied we find a rapid advance in physical and mental vigour.” Mr Mahon expressed himself as in favour 01 tho provision of a pint of milk a day to all school children. It was unworthy that a milk-producing country such as New Zealand should not look after the welfare of the children in respect to milk, and provision should be made for it at tho public cost, where necessary. A medical practitioner said that Dr Gunson’s statement was exaggerated for the purpose of the cause he was advocating—free milk for all the ch lithe statement as “ the best form of propaganda,,”

“I have to examine some of the boys that join the Territorial Force,” he said, “ and I can say definitely that they do not measure up to those who volunteered for service in the war years. It is a hard task for some of them to scrape through, but on the whole they are a gooa type as far ns their health is concerned. It is surprising, however, to see so many of them between the ages of 17 and 25 weighing no more than fist. The teeth troubles are much greater than during the time of the Great War.” A woman doctor said it < was generally accepted that the children were not what they should be. “ I do not think it is so much a matter of diet,” she said. “It is a question of rest. They are allowed to sit up too late at night.