51

H.—3l

A few months ago 1 had representations from the Master Bakers' Association that their messengers were frequently forced to take bread from their customers which had not been used, and that the bread returned might have been handled by persons suffering from or coming into contact with disease. They pointed out that in consequence of what inspections had revealed in Melbourne this practice had been forbidden by law, desiring my support in an effort to regulate this practice iv our colony. I gladly did so, and brought the matter before you, suggesting legislation on the question. The first step taken, I think, in this direction in the colony has been in luvercargill, where Inspector Cameron had a by-law adopted forbidding bakers to receive the returned bread. I trust soon to see such a by-law adopted throughout the colony, as the danger of spreading disease by this means is not an imaginary one. Dbainaoe op Towns. Unfortunately, drainage matters in Dunedin are in a state of suspense by the termination of the Engineer's engagement with the Drainage Board, and the reconsideration of the whole scheme; but a little is being done in the way of connecting houses with sewers where possible. In Mosgiel a septic installation has been instituted; but, the foundations of the septic tank being insufficient and iv bad ground, they gave way just as the tank was going to be put into operation, so this too is in abeyance. At Invercargill the Puni Creek, which served as an open sewer for part of the town, is now practically rendered pure by the construction of a drain along its course, an improvement we have been long urging. At Gore, where the drainage system has been completed, the houses are now being gradually connected with the sewer. Water-supply to Towns. In Dunedin the drainage area has now been secured by much land on the slopes of Mount Cargill having been bought up by the city, and several new creeks have been brought into the system, so that the city has now a much fuller supply than formerly—sufficient, probably, for many years. Invercargill is finding its supply insufficient, and the Council are considering means to augment it. Inspection of School-childhen. Dr. Mason took the opportunity of being in Dunedin at the time of the annual meeting of the Otago Educational Institute to address liie teachers on the advisability of supervising the health of the children, and at the close of his address, which was enthusiastically received, it was suggested that District Health Officers in the colony should meet the teachers at convenient times and places to discuss with them the best means of carrying out the scheme he propounded. When I was requested in my district to assist in the matter I gladly consented, and had, with Dr. Mason and two of our School Inspectors, a chat over ways and means. Considering how to carry out my part of the project I consulted a report of the Royal Commission on Physical Training (Scotland), issued in 1903, which has been sent me from Home, as well as a book on medical inspection of school-children by Dr. Leslie Mackenzie, with which I had been supplied, and sketched out a set of notes for my own use. This I submitted to Dr. Mason for approval. It was afterwards printed by the Department, and is to be distributed to the school-teachers through the colony for their guidance. I have now arranged to meet teachers both in Dunedin and at Invercargill at the annual meetings of the respective Educational Institutes, to discuss fully these matters, for which they will be prepared by having perused the pamphlet. These meetings will take place in June or July, and, as the teachers, Inspectors, and Education Boards' officials generally appear prepared to take up the inspection of the children with zeal, I anticipate much good to follow these conferences. I append a table referring to the occurrence of diseases among school-children at Edinburgh common schools, which shows graphically the need of inspection such as you have desired to be undertaken by the teachers.

Table IV. — Facts bearing on the Occurrence of Disease among School-children examined by Dr. Leslie Mackenzie in Four Edinburgh Middle-class Schools.

Frank Ogston, M.D., District Health Officer, Otago-Southland District.

Number of Children sui Eering fn im Dise: ,ses of— Age—Years. X 00 »O J I a a a a in to ■a 3 ro aj a o pa I 40 5 w 6D a u m 1I- - 2 o> EH M.S to 9 { M. F. 100 99 5 1 25 18 4 1 1 0 5 3 4 8 6 10 34 42 52 52 77 71 to 12 I M. F. 101 100 8 1 23 12 2 1 0 0 7 0 \ 8 12 16 41 44 46 50 73 65 .2 to 15 I M. F. 100 100 0 18 15 4 1 0 0 6 5 2 2 12 11 31 44 55 58 70 67 'otals ... J M. F. 301 299 8 2 66 45 10 3 1 0 IB 8 10 8 30 37 106 130 153 160 220 203 'ercentages Both 600 10 111 L3 26 18 G7 236 313 423 1-67 18-5 2-17 0-17 4-33 3-0 1117 39-33 52-17 70-5