SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19065, 10 January 1924, Page 6

SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICES.

Th'eke are a few, fortunately a very few, people in this country who make light of the provision that is made by the State for the medical inspection of schools. It is charitable to suppose that their objections to the system are founded in ignorance. The value of school medical services should be most usefully demonstrated in fields that offer a very wide scope for their activity. An encouraging report on the subject is that compiled for the past year by Sir George Newman, chief medical officer of the Board of Education of England and Wales. It is claimed that striking progress in the field of child welfare has been achieved within the last sixteen years, the results being apparent in a steady improvement in the health of school children. The proportion of defectives has declined, and “despite the prolonged industrial depression and its attendant unemployment the records show that the average level of nutrition last year was not below the pre-war standard, and in some areas was appreciably higher.” But the problems con fronting the educational and public health authorities remain formidable. The number of school children suffering from various forms of physical impairment is very large, and, when circumstances permit, a further extension of remedial measures will be called for. The somewhat sporadic and pioneer advances of the past must now, it is stated, give way to an orderly, comprehensive, well-balanced and national scheme. The dimensions of the work in the Old Country are indicated by the fact that in 1922 nearly two and a-half million children, or 46 per cent, of those attending the elementary schools, were medically inspected. Of that number 42 per cent, were found to bo defective in some degree. A tabulated statement indicative of the incidence of defect shows dental disease, defective vision, and ear, nose, and throat disease to be in the forefront in that order. Increasing attention is being given to dental disease. Of a million and a-half children inspected by dentists 72 per cent, were found to be so defective as to require treatment, but the improvement recorded in this connection in London is considered remarkable. Between 1913 and 1919 it amounted roughly to 5 per cent, more children leaving school with sound teeth; in the two years following another 5 per cent, was added, and in 1922 still another 5 per cent., making 15 per cent, in all in nine years. The astonishing progress of the later years is attributed to the fact that children are now leaving school who nine years earlier first came under dental inspection and treatment.

The plan which has gained Mr Edward Bok’s prize as the most promising scheme evolved by an American citizen for bringing the United States into co-operation with other nations in an endeavour to secure world peace is not marked by any features of striking originality. The fortunate author secures 50,000 dollars down, and a like amount if the great American public stamps the proposals with the hall mark of its approval. The disappointed competitors must find their reward in the thought that they have taxed their brains in an effort to solve the most momentous problem with which civilisation is confronted. The author of the plan which' has received the approval of the appointed judges has been careful to allow for the sanctity of the Monroe Doctrine, and to rule out the idea that America can ever assume any obligations under certain much discussed articles of the League of Nations’ Covenant. Otherwise, he simply offers his country to the not unreluctant embrace of the League of Nations. Small wonder that certain self-assertive Senators have been prompt to express disapproval of a suggestion the adoption of which has been open to their country ever since Mr Woodrow Wilson returned from Versailles. The Bok prize-winner holds that the League of Nations represents the best scheme of practical character before the world at the present time in the interests of international peace, and many people in the United States will find satisfaction in seeing this conclusion thus thrown publicly again, in the teeth of the obstructionists who wish the League to be regarded as a dead issue in the United States The Republicans, certainly, would prefer to go to the country upon strictly domestic issues, and Mr Bok will be in danger of being anathematised tor confronting the country with this -vexed controversial question. But Mr Bok, as a great publicist, will probably enjoy the situation.

Tub people of Otago, with their own experiences of last winter in mind, will be able to sympathise the better with the citizens of Paris upon whom the flood waters of the Seine descended last week with an alarming impetuosity. When the Seine is in an angry mood it is far from a trivial matter. Some notable floods are associated wun the history of the famous French river. One of the most disastrous occurred fourteen years ago, in January, 1910. The highest previously recorded level was passed on the upper reaches of the river on the present occasion, but although the accounts of what has happened this year at Paris depict a serious state of affairs, there has been nothing to suggest an irruption upon the scale of 1910. The losses in Pans and the neighbourhood in that year were estimated as in the vicinity of £40,000,000, and great distress and a vast amount of unemployment were caused. The soldiers and sailors were called upon to help in fighting the flood waters, and the immediate expenditure which the State had to make to aid the sufferers was very heavy. Relief was contributed generously, however, from beyond France—from England, America, and most of the European States, including Russia and Turkey. The experience of the Parisians fourteen years ago was one of prolonged anxiety, for the waters subsided but slowly, and more than once rose again alarmingly. It was reckoned that over 14,000 houses in the city weu, affected by the flood. What happened in 1910 put the French authorities upon their mettle to devise more effective measures for the protection of Paris against a repetition of the disaster. A Comirns sion of Inquiry was immediately set up. Doubtless the citizens of Paris are reap mg the benefit of the precautionary measures that were then seen to be desirable. Even so, it is clear that the Seine in flood is by no means stripped of its terrors.

A ptarkktlt there is no future ahead of tobacco-growing in Great Britain. The committee appointed by the Treasury to inquire into the industry has come to the conclusion that its prospects do not justify further State aid over and above the help already given by Imperial Preference. The grounds upon which this conclusion is mainly based are that .only a low-grade article can be produced in Great Britain, and that thei’e is no prospect of tobacco being grown upon a large scale so as to compete successfully with the foreign product. British tobacco is described by the committee as having a distinctive flavour foreign to the acquired taste of the British consumer, and rarely appreciated by him. The committee’s opinion is that no large extension of the demand can be expected in the near future unless steps are taken to give the consumer an inducement to smoke this tobacco, and such an inducement could take the form only of a lower price, brought about h\ a State subsidy, grant, or rebate of duty. It is admitted that without further help from the Exchequer there is no reasonable prospect of such an improvement in quality as would bring the industry within the limits of commercial practicability, and that under present conditions it cannot he hoped that it will establish itself. Since 1886 experiments have been conducted in various parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by permission of the Treasury, to determine whether marketable tobacco could be grown. From time to time legislation was enacted for the encouragement of growers, either by a bounty or a rebate of duty. The output reached its highest point in 1915, when a total of 135,226 pounds of tobacco was produced, of which nearly half was grown in England. Since then the production has rapidly declined, and last year it was only 20,715 pounds. Scotland has ceased to grow tobacco. It is considered just possible that Ireland, now independent of British Customs, may revive an industry which ten years ago was in a fairly flourishing condition.

Mr T. Gallagher and Mr J. Leen, two well-known Oamaru men, escaped luckily in a motor accident on the Kakanui road yesterday morning. As the result of a collapse of the steering (rear the oar overturned and was wrecked. Gallagher jumped clear, and Leen, the driver, although pinned under the machine, was saved by the seat, and was later extricated unhurt.

That the recent wool sales proved very profitable to some flockmasters (says our Wanganui correspondent) is demonstrated by the size of some of the cheques. One farmer received £IO,OOO for his wool clip. This amount is an increase of £ISOO above ■what he anticipated, and represents a rise of 2d per lb. A Home mail of 41 bags and 40 parcel receptacles, ex the Rotorua, which is due at Wellington to-morrow from London, should reach here on Saturday night. Six bags of Australian mail, ex the Marama at Auckland, are due here to-night. Alexander M'Kenzie appeared voluntarily at the City Police Court, before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., yesterday to answer a charge of having driven a motor oar at a speed exceeding 15 miles an hour on the Main South road, Green Island, on December 27 last. The defendant, who was returning from the races at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to having driven at 20 to 25 miles an hour, and was fined £4, fee magistrate remarking on the danger of speeding on a busy road. To even the tamest, quietest cart horse there comes once in a while a flash of the wild spirit, and yesterday afternoon an innocent-looking grey animal commanded all traffic to make way for him as, dragging an empty express, he galloped madly up High street, through part of Maclaggan street, and then up Clarke street. He as given a clear run, for it was no great temptation to stand in front of him in his wild burst. It was fortunate that no damage was done, as a collision or an overturning appeared imminent at any moment. However, the animal followed a steady course till he pulled up in Clarke street, evidently having recovered from the fright or whatever sent him away.

It is not everyone who carries with him a halfpenny; in fact, very few do. But one would expect that a youngster selling newspapers at l£d each would never be without his stock of these coins. No doubt some of them provide themselves with the necessary small change, bug one, at least, has lately found it quite profitable to be without halfpennies, for purchaser after purchaser, having been informed that the lad had no such coin, has generously replied, “Never mind.” It does not taka long to double profits in this fashion, and the purchaser might well seek for a sign of the boy’s tongue in his check after being informed for tho' fourth night in succession that tho vendor had no halfpennies.

Wyndham will be the training centre for the Ist Battalion (Southland) Regiment this year (writes our Gore correspondent), The annual camp will be held at that township from January 16 to 25. Trainees will assemble from tho area between Lawrence and Kaitangata in the north, and Otautau and Bluff in the south. The estimated strength of the camp is in the vicinity of 500.

Holiday-makers who have returned from Stewart Island report that very boisterous weather was experienced there during the holiday season. So great was the force of the gale on New Year’s Day that three whales wore stranded at Paterson’s Inlet. Mr D. L. Poppelwe-11 Mayor of Gore, who has just returned (writes our Gore correspondent) states that ho is of the opinion that the whales are of the porpoise species, which is confined to New Zealand waters. One of the whales was 30ft long.

According to the local Tourist Office there should be a fairly large number of American visitors to the South Island within the next few weeks. At present nothing definite is known, but particulars will be available in a few days. There was a comparatively small yarding of fat cattle at Burnside yesterday, the entry totalling only 166 head, as compared with 285 head last week. The quality was not quite up to the usual standard, but still there were some nice handy-weights in the way of prime steers and heifers in the pens. Generally speaking, there was a steadier demand than was the case last week, and cattle that were passed in at the last sale realised from £1 to £1 10s more yesterday than was offered for them at the previous sale. Extra prime bullocks reached from 33s to 34s per 1001 b; medium quality from 32s 6d to 33s fid; extra prime heifers, 31s; and cows and medium quality heifers from 18s to 255. There were about 150 head of store cattle forward, but the majority were moderate sorts, for which there was a dull sale. A few year-old Shorthorn cross steers, in good condition, realised £2 6s, and a nice bunch of 18 months’ old heifers was sold at £1 17s. Other sorts were passed or sold at recent values. The entry of fat sheep showed a decline as compared with last week, the figures being 1289 and 1445 respectively. The quality was mixed. A number were not finished, but the pens contained some nice weights also. There was a keen demand throughout. At the opening and closing sales the values were lowest, but these were well ahead of the prices obtainable last week, while at times values showed an advance of some shillings—on an average from 2s to 3s. Prime wethers sold at from 6£d to 6|d per lb; medium quality, 6d; extra prime ewes, fid; medium quality ewes, Sid; aged ewes, 4id. There was a small entry of fat lambs, only 214 coming forward yesterday as compared with 423 at the previous sale. The quality ranged from very fair to good, but some of the animals forward wore plain. A good sale took place, notwithstanding the fact that exporters were mostly on the rail, and values advanced to the extent of about Is per head. Extra heavy lambs realised 9id per lb, medium quality 9d, and light and inferior Bid to 81,d. There was a medium supply of pigs, a clearance of which was effected at late values, porkers realising up to Bid per lb and baconers up to 7d per lb

Mr Poynton, S.M. commenting on a charge against a man charged with driving a motor cycle with a side car on the Kohimarama beach between high and low water at a dangerous speed (reports an Auckland Press Association telegram) said that defendant drove to and fro, causing visitors to abandon the beach. The defence was that the beach was not a public highway. It was, the magistrate, said, Crown land. As there had apparently never been any dedication or other dealing with it as required by “The Public Works Act, 1903,” section 101, it was not a public highway. It was desirable to control vehicles using such beaches, and provision should be inserted in the next Consolidating Act or Amending Act to bring these beaches under it. He would forward his finding to the Justice Department, together with certain recommendations.

A letter outlining the position respecting the dispute that still exists concerning the Pukeuri freezing workers has been sent to the secretary (Mr F. Ellis) of the Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Union by Mr J. Milburn (secretary of the Otago Union). Mr Milburn states that at a meeting of the Pukeuri workers it was unanimously decided to inform the management of the company that the men were prepared to resume work provided that the company did not make it a condition of employment that the men should join the new union. Mr Milburn reported that the company had replied to the effect that, while they were anxious to obtain the services of the old union hands, they would not recognise Mr Milburn or his union, and that nil applicants for work must agree to join the new union. Mr Milburn later stated that he had received a reply from Mr Ellis, who stated that the Canterbury Executive had decided to loan £SO to the Otago Union, and was also prepared to render further financial assistance to help the Otago Freezing Works and Related Trades Unions to insist on recognition from the two companies involved, the South Otago Freezing Company and the Pukeuri Company. Meetings .would also be held throughout Canterbury to discuss what further action might be taken.

A strange case of -what is thought to have been mental telepathy is reported from Hobart. .Mr Cummings was motoring on the Hobart-Launccston road, when he became.obsessed with a feeling that there was something wrong behind him on the road, though ho had seen nothing. He returned, and about a mile back found that there had been a serious motor mishap, the victims being in urgent need of his help. The accident occurred to a motor car containing seven passengers. It overturned about two miles on the southern side of Oatlands, while descending a steep hill. All the occupants were injured, a mother and her child seriously. When Mr Cummings reached the scene of the accident he found two of the sufferers pinned beneath the car. Ho was instrumental in securing prompt assistance for the injured.

The unstable nature of the country through which part of the North Auckland railway passes receives silent but impressive testimony from the stone cairns which crown the entrance to three of the tunnels near Huarau (says the Now Zealand Herald). To the layman these cairns are apparently purposeless, but the inspecting engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr C. J. M'Kenzie, says their purpose is to even up the loading on tho tunnel. Without the great weight of the cairn on the top, the shifting earth at the sides was liable to squeeze the tunnel and bring the sides together, although they were formed of from 12in to 24in of mass concrete, sometimes with steel reinforcement. The cairns balance tho load on the top and the two sides. Further into the tunnel the load of earth on top balanced that pressing in from tho sides and no artificial loading was required. The quantity of butter received for grading at the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company’s store this season, to the end of December, totalled 725,416 boxes, compared with 770,855 for tho corresponding period of last season, a decrease of 45,437 boxes. The quantity received for grading during December was 207,777 boxes, against 220,024, a decrease of 12,247 boxes. The figures for November showed a deficit of only 2958 boxes compared with November, 1522. The comparatively small increase in last month’s on that of November indicates that production has been checked appreciably owing to the hot. dry, weather early in the month (states the New Zealand Herald). This suggestion is supported by the fact that earlv in December the weekly production in the province was pracHcally equal to that of December. 1922. Reports from several districts state that more rain is urgently required to freshen the pastures and maintain the milk production. The quantity of cheese received for the season to tho end of December was 71,232 crates, against 39,249 for tho similar period of last season, an increase of 31,933 crates. Tho deliveries for December from the stores, tho hulk of which were for export, totalled 200,166 boxes of butter and 33,749 crates of cheese, against 197,365 boxes and 12,505 crates in December, 1922. Tho quantities of butter and cheese in store at 51st December totalled 104,857 boxes and 8745 crates, compared with 150,595 boxes and 9393- crates at the similar period of last season.

At the Salvation Army Hail, Dowling street, to-night the Maori programme, which was well received a few months ago, will bo rendered. Ensign Fraser will appear for the last time as a Maori chief. The hakas, poi dances, etc., will be amongst the attractions, while the sunrise and moonlight effect will alone repay an evening spent at the hall. A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Ans tralasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. Advt

Choice Jewellery; compare our values; large selection diamond rings, watches, bracelets, silverware, etc. —Peter Dick, jewellers, 490 Moray place.—Advt. The Pacific Starr-Bowkett Building Society invites applications for membership in No. 5 Group Call for booklet. Office', SG King Edward street. —Advt.