PITCAIRN'S NEED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22776, 9 July 1937, Page 13

PITCAIRN'S NEED

SYSTEM OF EDUCATION GOOD HEALTH OF ISLANDERS REPORT BY MEDICAL OFFICER ACTIVE AND VIGOROUS PEOPLE [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WHANGAREI, Thursday After spending five weeks on Pitcairn Island at the request of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific at Suva, Sir Arthur Richards, for u-hom he made a comprehensive investigation of the health of the islanders, Dr. Duncan Cook, medical officer of health for North Auckland, returned to Whangarei yesterday. Dr. Cook is preparing a report for the British Government. "The islanders are deeply religious, being staunch followers of the Seventh Day Adventist faith," said Dr. Cook. "One of the most remarkable features about the population is its rapid increase; it has grown from 45 in 1864 to 200 at the present time. However, it is interesting to note that, in spite of the island's isolated position, this rate of increase has now ceased, and at the present moment there is little natural increase, so that* the trend toward small families, so common in modern civilisation, has now reached Pitcairn Island. Favourable Environment "The conditions of environment, which really decide the health of the people, are all good," Dr. Cook continued. "The climate is excellent, and with this is associated a' better thaa average soil, with northern slopes, sheltering it from the southerly winds which reach the island during the winter months. Considerable physical eifort is required to wrest a living from the soil by the old methods of cultivation still in force. "The original stock which peopled the island was good, consisting of picked English sailors, with whom were mated healthy Tahitian women. It wa9 expected that the progeny would be strong and vigorous, and such ha 3 proved to be the case. The teeth only are bad, particularly those in the fronb in the upper jaw. This has been attributed to in-breeding, but the more probable cause is a deficient dietary, there appearing to be a relative lack of animal food, with an excess of starchy food. There is also no milk on the island. Good Average Intelligence "Much has been said on the subject of degeneracy from in-breeding during the past 70 years. However, no evidence ■was found of this, either physically or mentally. The islanders compare very favourably with any race at the present I time, and mentally there is no degeneracy.

"The intelligence of the average islander is good," Dr. Cook concluded. "There is, however, a cultural decline because of inadequate schooling, and many of the people make little iise of the English language, using a substitute dialect which is unintelligible to a visitor. The most pressing need' of the island, therefore, is a form of. sound education for the people, based on a true appreciation of the requirements of the inhabitants."