HEALTH IN SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 13

HEALTH IN SCHOOLS

SKIN DISEASE DANGER INVESTIGATION PROMISED Representations made to the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Eraser, by the Auckland Education Board concerning the health and cleanliness of Maori children attending mixed schools were replied to in a letter received at yesterday's meeting of the board, when the Minister advised that the question was being investigated.

Mr. F. A.. Snell remarked that the Minister's reply was very satisfactory, but the fact remained that European children were still being affected. Immediately after the reports of tho last board meeting appeared in the press the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, had telephoned expressing his concern at the remarks made by members of the board, said the sec* retary, Mr. D. W. Dunlop. Dr. Wntt was anxious that the board should know that the Health Department had 10 nurses working in the North Auckland district alone and that they were doing their utmost to cope with the position. An invitation was extended to members of the board to accompany the nurses and see for themselves the efforts being made to stamp out skin disease. Mr. J. E. Elliott: They want more nurses.

" The question is generally acute in mixed schools in the north." remarked Mr. G. S. B. Morrison. As was generally known. Maori children were frequently affected with skin diseases and there Avas always a danger of the diseases being transmitted to other, pupils.