LACK OF SLEEP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19009, 8 May 1936, Page 4

LACK OF SLEEP

CHILDREN'S HEALTH CAUSE OF. MALNUTRITION MORE EXERCISE NEEDED The view that lack of sleep was a potent cause of malnutrition in New Zealand was expressed by Dr. Alda G. Paterson, director of the Division of School Hygiene, in an address to members of the Auckland Education Board. No country had 'better living conditions that New Zealand, she said, and all the facilities for healthy growth were available. The need was for better use and distribution of them.

it had been shown that malnutrition was due not only to lack of food, or unsuitable food, but to insufficient Aleep or fresh air and unhygienic living conditions. One school attended by pupils from well-to-do homes had a larger proportion of malnutrition than the average, showing that it was not confined to poor families. The cause in this case was probably overstimulation and lack of sleep. Dr. Paterson said there should be a revaluation of health and physical education. Schools should be places of activity, not of sedentary . pursuits only. Children should be taught to use their hands, develop their bodies and keep them healthy. The teaching of domestic science to girls was a particularly important side of manual work. Cooking and housekeeping generally should fill a more honoured place in the outlook of the community, and there would be less malnutrition.

It was important that more attention should 'be given to physical education. It was taken for granted that children had ample opportunity for games. At one time children had a carefree walk to and from school along country lanes, but now getting to school was a nerve-wracking business and children could no longer play game? in the streets near their homes. Their play was becoming more and more sedentary and they would be better engaged in learninghow to keep their bodies fit than absorbing a mass of facts they would soon forget. Commenting on her recent visit to England, Dr. Paterson said it was noticeable that the ill-clad, halfstarved children one used to see had disappeared. This was due to tremendous advances in child welfare and very complete provision for the detection ami treatment of physical defects. There had been a steady improvement in physique, but as far as could be ascertained New Zealand children were still taller and heavier than those of the same age in Great Britain.

days the boats made their slow progress to the French coast. It was'remarkable, in view of the nearness to the scene of extensive naval operations, and the acknowledgements the liner had had of her distress signals over the air, that no ship came within touch with the master and crew during the long struggle to land.

CONVOYING U.S. TROOPS After two months in hospital, and a brief convalescence, during which Captain Mason received the appreciation of his employers and also an intimation that he had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, he returned to duty, and during the later years of the war commanded troopships bringing across the Atlantic American troops from NewYork, Boston, Montreal, and Quebec, the base of operations being changed from time to time as submarine activity along the American coast became more acute.

He had several further exciting encounters with enemy craft, the most interesting occurring while he was in chargie of a convoy of 26, carrying 60,000 American troops. Just off the coast of Ireland, the convoy was warned of the presence of submarines, and while the destroyer guard was busily engaged on one wing of the convoy in trying t« locate the menace, a lone submarine came to the surface right in the middle of the huge fleet of troopships. '' How the commander got. his craft in there is difficult to imagine, but it was just a piece of misfortune for hint," Captain Mason commented. "He was dealt with before he had time to do any damage or submerge again. First a shell from a cruiser crippled him, and then a Cunard liner got in a successful shot, the submarine turning up its tail and sinking like a stone half a mile in the direct route of my vessel. We actually passed through the sheet of oil which covered the surface of the sea where, the submarine went down, and the excitement among the American troops was intense. Their cheers could almost have been heard in their own country."

SUBMARINES OFF USHANT On another occasion, during weather which favoured the escape of his ship, Captain Mason clearly saw one submarine lying on the surface in the lee of an island off Cape Ushant, near the entrance to the English Channel. Nearby lay another object which was described as a submarine, but its outline was indistinguishable. While making his getaway, Captain Mason wirelessed information to the nearest naval base, and a little later was passed by two submarine chasers, seeking the submarines. He later had information that "acting on information received," the chasers had located both submarines, and dealt with them successfully. A red-letter day in Captain Mason's career was the first occasion on which, after the armistice, he took a ship out of Glasgow bound for the United States, with every light aboard blazing. After years of anxious operating without lights, in waters where every moment held the menace of collision, the relief was tremendous. ".For all that," he .commented in relating the incident, "when I met another ship glowing with lights, I thought for a moment that the commander was out of his mind!"

In the closing years of his sea career, Captain Mason again voyaged to New Zealand and Australia, completing 40 years at sea in 1933, when he retired. Ho is now engaged, with Mrs. Mason, in touring both Dominions extensively. "I never had the chance before to see the insides of either country, and for both of us our experiences on this tour have been wonderful," ho observed.