THE HOME LAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 6

THE HOME LAND

(From Our Special Correspondent.) SCOTLAND, March 21. Tests have been carried out under the direction of the Scottish Board of Health upon groups of school children at seven different centres to ascertain the effect of a milk diet upon the young people. About 1500 children in all were subjected . to the test, which was concerned with the relative values of whole milk, separated or skimmed milk, and biscuits as an additional diet to what the children received in their homes. At each centre four groups of children were treated, each group comprising 40 to 50, according to the size of the classes in the school. One gi oup received whole milk, a second separated milk, and a third biscuit of the same energy-yielding value as the skimmed milk. The fourth group, which served as a control, received no supplementary feeding. The test began at the end of November, 1920, and finished at the end- of June. At Peterhead and Greenock the children were between the ages of 5 and G years; at Dundee and Edinburgh between 8 and 9 years; and at Aberdeen and Paisley between 13 and 14 years. Glasgow (and also Belfast, over a shorter period) had a series of groups of each of three ranges of age. There were thus under test children at the beginning, the middle, and the end of elementary school life. The younger group received 5 pint of milk per school day, the eight to nine-year-old children 1 pint of milk, and the 13 to 14-year-old children 1} pints. The milk was given at school. All the results were collected and analysed at the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, under Dr J. B. Orr, the director of that institution. From the results it is ascertained that the milk-fed children are in better condition than those receiving no milk, and that they have gained in height and weight. Dr Orr says that “ the height increases when all the groups at one age, irrespective of locality, are combined, show very strikingly the influence of the milk supplement in aiding growth, and the failure of the biscuit supplement.” The results, particularly in relation to the value of skimmed milk as a growthforming agent, are of such interest that the Empire Marketing Board, who have provided 'the funds, are prepared- to defray the cost of a further period to test whcther.the original conclusions will be confirmed. From the data now available it seems probable that, in the final report, it will be possible to draw the following conclusions: (1) That addition of milk to the diet of school children has been accompanied by a rate of growth, as indicated by height and weight, which is 20 per cent, greater than that in children not receiving the extra milk; (2) this increase in rate of growth has been accompanied by an improvement in the general condition of the children receiving milk; (3) separated or skimmed milk is of great value for promoting growth. Its nutritive value for children would appear to be under-estimated.

Scots people are ever ready to listen when Mr John Buchan, M.P., the distinguished man of letters, gets up to speak. He was presiding at the 113th anniversary festival dinner of the Royal Caledonian Schools at the Mayfair Hotel in London, and in the course of his speech reminded those present that the schools began in the aftermath of a great war, and continued to-day in the aftermath of a still greater war. It bad always, he said, seemed to him that there was one achievement of our country to which justice had scarcely been done. During the eighteenth century, Highlands and Lowlands, which for generations had been antagonistic societies, were brought into one social, economic, and religious system. It was a tremendous feat, and it was the making of modern Scotland; To-day the two traditions were inextricably interwoven, and they were interwoven in the schools. Pupils were representative of every Scottish regiment. This piece of Scotland in another land represented no parochial sentiment, but the enthusiasm and entire community of the Scottish people. Mr. Buchan said that sometimes, in moments of despondency, he had a notion that Scotland was changing—a malady which perhaps attacked every conservative soul when it contemplated the passing of the years. But he comforted himself with the reflection that there were certain things tllat could never change. They might cease as a race to be Bilflereading and God-fearing; they might cease to be logical; they might even cease, by some fortunate dispensation, to be drouthy; but two things they would always be—far wandering and clannish. It was to this clannishness that he would appeal. The cause of the Royal Caledonian Schools was the cause of education—the best kind of education. The schools were in the main supported by voluntary contributions. That was a great thing, a great principle; but it meant a perpetual anxiety for the directors. They must not confine thensupport of the schools to dining in their honour and drinking to their prosperity. That was never the Scottish way. The English Jacobites toasted Prince Charlie, the Scottish Jacobites fought and died for him. He trusted that their distinguished gathering would show in the most practical way their appreciation of the work which the

schools had done, and that greater work which there was still to do. The treasurer announced a list of subscriptions which showed the response which Mr Buchan’s appeal had stimulated. They included lOgns from his Majesty the King, £450 as a result of the Royal Caledonian Ball, £220 as a result of the “Burns nieht” concert by the Scottish Clans Association, the total being £4423.

. There is universal regret in the best circles in the west of Scotland at the death, after a long illness, of Mr Thomas Alexander Fyfe, C.8.C., LL.D., senior sheriff substitute of Lanarkshire. A most efficient administrator and interpreter of the law, he was at all times keenly interested in the public questions of the day. As a practising solicitor in Glasgow Mr Fyfe was regarded as a leading member of his profession, and it gave great satisfaction when, in 1895, he was selected by the Lord Advocate of the time to become one of the sheriff substitutes of Lanarkshire. It is only in recent years that the increasingly responsible nature of a sheriff’s work has been fully realised. There is no longer a post of otium cum dignitate to be pleasantly enjoyed by an obscure member of the Scottish Bar as the reward of political services. Now, and f° r . ln£ >.ny years past, the office is one whicJi demands stern and arduous administration. Sheriff Fyfe was thorough m all his work, and his decisions were seldom reversed in the higher courts. He was never averse to lending assistance to movements calculated to advance the interests of the community as a whole, and he was universally respected by the people of Glasgow and the west of Scotland. He married a daughter of ex-Provost Shanks, ironfounder, Denny, who died some years ago. The sheriffs two sons were killed in the Great War, and he is survived by a married daughter.

There was a gathering of some 200 farmers at Ayr—the heart of the dairying country of the West of Scotland—when some interesting statements were made regarding the milk pool. Mr T. C. Lindsay, Aitkenbrae, Monkton, one of the leading breeders of Ayrshire cattle, and with a large milk producing herd, who presided, said that undoubtedly the Milk Agency had come to stay. It was i ecognised as one of the best organisations that had ever been set up for the benefit of dairy interests. They had set out to get equal prices for all,'' and had pretty well succeeded in doing so. Mr Magee stated that the agency was handling well over one and a-half million gallons of liquid milk per month, and the demand for supplies from different parts .of the country would render it unnecessary for producers in the West of Scotland to make cheese until well into April. A combination of the kind was badly wanted in Scotland. Up till now the distributors have been able practically to dictate terms to the farmers.

Joppa Village, near Ayr, has a grand old lady, Mrs George Watt, who reached her 101st birthday on March 13. She was born in the parish of Stair, not far from where she now lives. Her father, who was the carrier between South Ayrshire and Glasgow, lived to the good old age of 96 years. All the family were long-livers. Some years ago there resided near each other, in Coylton parish, in which Joppa is situated, four sisters’ of whom Mrs Watt was one, whose united ages reached 370 years. Mr Watt has a familv of five still living. There are 32 grandchildren, 77 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren. The old lady still enjoys good health, and relates many interesting stories of stage coach days. Many congratulatory messages were received by Mrs Watt'on her birthdav.

The Glasgow Presbytery of the United Free Church, in view of the extension of facilities for betting and gambling occasioned by the opening of greyhound racing tracks, has unanimously adopted a motion urging the Home Secretary to take immediate steps to introduce the necessary legislation to make betting on greyhound racing illegal. The Rev. David M'Queen, who submitted the. motion, referred to greyhound racing as “ that imbecile sport.” It was said that it put down street betting and had reduced crime and drunkenness. Even if it had done so iv vias a satanic thing to cure one vice by inoculating the community with another.

Sir Philip Gibbs, the famous war correspondent, proposed the toast of the evening at the twelfth reunion dinner of the 51st (Highland) Division Dinner Club in London. He said he regarded it as an especial honour as a Sassenach to be entrusted with the duty. He felt, however, that he had a little claim to do so, for the division was not unknown to him, because all through the Great M ar he was a chiel among them takin’ notes. Reviving personal memories of the 51st Highland Division, Sir Philip declared that it was the attack at Beaumont Hamel which determined the Germans to clear out of the Somne altogether and to retreat to the Hindenburg line. The spirit of the 51st Division was proved most of all in retreat, as was shown by the experience in March, 1918, when they lost 4000 men and 219 ofllcei s. That was the most glorious episode of the division,- and the greatest tribute ever paid to them was when at that time tjie enemy sent them the message of “ Good old 51st, still sticking it! ”

“The Jacobite Myth ” was the subject of an address delivered before the members of the Inverness Scientific Som. ty and Field Club by Mr Evan M'Leod Barron. In dealing with the 1715 and 1745 risings Mr Barron said: “The popular belief that to be a Jacobite is to be something notable, and not to be a Jacobite js to he something contemptible, is a myth that docs no credit to the Highlands or to the Highland people, and it is a myth which in the interests not only of history, but of the Highland people, ought to be exploded once and for all.” The Little Theatre, a new place of entertainment, intended to encourage the production of plays by local writers, has been formally opened in the Keir Hardie Institute, Renfrew street, Glasgow. The clarion players gave a performance of Bernard Shaw’s “ Arms and the Man.” Equipped with an up-to-date stage and dressing rooms the theatre has seating accommodation for about 300 persons. * » » Farmers in Scotland have had a very bad year. In some cases proprietors have given a reduction of rental, and Dr Cowie, owner of the estate in Glenrinnes, Banff, has presented his tenants with seed corn to the extent of one quarter of corn for every £6 of rental. On some of the high-lying holdings every ounce of seed corn will have to be bought this season. The recent rough weather vv ill prevent sowing for some time. * * * Glasgow Corporation has resolved to adopt a jiroposal of the Tramways Committee to recondition plant and' install new machinery’ at Pinkston power station at an estimated co.->t of £237,500. * * * Mr E. Rossi yn Mitchell, M.P., lias been selected as the Labour candidate at the forthcoming rectorial election at Glasgow University. His opponents will be the I rime (Conservative) and Sir Herbert Samuel (Liberal). Mr Mitchell, who is the only Scotsman of the three, is a graduate in arts and laws of the university. Mr Mitchell defeated Lord Oxford and Asquith at Paisley. * * » Gertrude, Countess of Moray, widow of the sixteenth earl, died at her residence m Dorset on March 15. She was a dauo-h--ter of the late Rev. Francis Smith, and married in 1879 the sixteenth Earl of Moi ay, who died in 1909, and was succeeded by his brother, the nresent peer. Mr M. Greenhouse Allt, organist and master of music of St. Giles’s Cathedral, and conductor of the Royal Edinburgh Choral Union, has been appointed by the Edinburgh University Court to the‘office of university organist in place of the late Mr T. H. Collinson. • • e James Dunn, 1’.C.1.5., headmaster of Woodside Public School, Hamilton, has retired after nearly 50 years’ service as a teacher in Lanarkshire. He has been presented with a. gold watch by his colleagues, former pupils, and scholars. Mrs Dunn received a gold bracelet watch.