THE FARMERS’ CORNER.

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6097, 3 September 1947, Page 2

THE FARMERS’ CORNER.

HOME HEALTH GUIDE MALNUTRITION IN DAIRYING DISTRICTS' (By the Department of Health) A five-year medical research study into the health of children living in the hill district around Adelaide was recently concluded. It is a farming community. There is no lack of available food and real poverty does not exist. There is an excellent climate. Yet malnutrition exists to the same extent as in cities like Sydney. The cause i£ said to be two-fold. Firstly, the children are not eating food of the proper kind. Secondly, body growth and development are interfered with by work on dairy farms. The children of the dairying districts work throughout the year. < This report of malnourished children in an Australian farming district strikes home. We show much the' same picture in New Zealand. We have a good climate and an abundance of food, and our children in dairying districts often have to help in the cowsheds.

Teachers complain they are tired and listless at school. Statistics show children in these dairying and share-milking districts have often more malnutrition than town children. The benefit of living in the country is negatived by living on an unbalanced diet and by child labour in the milking shed. Both parents are concerned in this defect. The father, it is hoped, now that the war is over, will be able to employ labour again, and cut out child assistance in milking activities. He can hardly expect mother to maintain a balanced diet unless he helps by growing ample vegetables and small fruits and tree fruits suitable to his district.

Mother has her responsibilities. She will-not grow bonny children unless milk, cheese, eggs, vegetables and fruit are used properly in the diet. There is often an aversion to milk on a dairy farm, psychological in origin, and usually derived from the parents’ own attitude. Mother and father will have to practise milk consumption, or the children will follow their lead. YOUNG FARMERS DEBATE TE AWAMUTU SUCCESS The debating team of the Te Awamutu Young Farmers’ Club has achieved outstanding success in disposing of its vaiious opponents in the final stages of the annual Dominion debating championship.

Last week the Te Awamutu team defeated the winners of the Western Bay of Plenty section, Paengoroa, and this week will contest the final of the Auckland Provincial area with Upper Franklin.

The debate will be held in Hamilton and the adjudicator will be Mr Woodyear Smith. . The Te Awamutu team comprises Messrs C. Eyre, R. Pattison and R. Simm. The winning team in next week’s contest will debate against the champion team of the Wellington Province.