MALNUTRITION

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1936, Page 5

MALNUTRITION

DR V. if AUCKLAND.May' 6. Quoting recent, reportpVon the valence of malnutrition among sGhqpi children. diK New. Zealand/, Dr. A. G. Paterson - appealed tdirtiie Auckland Education.f Board im an ' address to :pjace more stress ofi trainihg in domestic science’ for girls, uinHs .on physical traihingS for' both- sesps|£ as the best •> safeguards against malnutrition amongst' them v On her'.recent visit ~tb Great Britain-,, Dr, ’Paterson :said; ; she ;bad •noticed; a; dramatic:; changev in tnf^ v condition of school children. The half-starved,' neglected-looking children of; a few yeafs .ago were now never seen either.; on..*,the 4 streets. or in the. schools, Lven 'in ,tbe poorest districts. As in New Zealand., the children were gradually, becoming taller and heavier. As. a result of the organisation; of child welfare work, there : was in -Great, Britain now an exceller.t and complete provision *for the detection. -and. treatment of . physical defects. Treatpient was not "always free; but the charges wefe graded according to the ability: of the parents to pay. , “Malnutrition is not starvation, but'faulty growth caused by unhvgienic living, conditions;” said Dr Paterson. ; -‘lt is;d«e -‘not. only to, lack of food, but often tir lack of * sleep or lack of fresh air. in New Zealand I - would say thAt. lack of sufficient sleep is a greater cause ofmalnutrition than lack of food through unemployment and poverty ; as children coming from well-to-do homes often show symptoms of it. ?

“No country offers so many facili- -t ties'for children to enioy fresh food, fresh air, exercise; and healthy living conditions as New. Zealand does, hut these things are tod often taken for granted,” Dr, Paterspn said. “It is- far more. import ant itj> j teach chit-, rlren how. to .keepi \theiT 1 1 bodies fit ' than to teach them GiVdot of facts that they will soon forget JV -useless. • ' V C ' ’

“The linger I live, the more rexsnect I have for a good cook,” Dr 'Paterson concluded. £‘A knowledge.. of. how /to produce good, .healthy meals on a small budget is neces-, a/i ry to qvery wife and-; mother, : -if her children are ; not*" to suffer from ' • ' malnutrition ; and • domestic science should therefore Gm'one of the most important subjects; on ..the syllabus.”