H.—3l.

child, generally speaking, is in nutrition and posture superior to the pakeha. The percentage of Maori children with perfect teeth is much greater (15-76 Maori, 2-76 European). The percentage of Maori children with evidence of goitre is less (12-13 Maori, 19-86 European), by far the greatest proportion of goitre noted in both cases being incipient. It has been remarked that the Maori child in remote areas retains his superiority more easily, but when he comes to live in close proximity to the European and alters his habits accordingly he tends to develop the defects of his pakeha brother. The Maori shows a greater incidence of skin-diseases, and the lack of acquired racial immunity makes him a readier victim to tuberculosis. Community methods of living assist in the spread of infection. The following are extracts from Dr. Wyn Irwin's report:— " Several Native - school teachers and those District Nurses with longest experience, are emphatic that the encouragement of a diet containing liberal amounts of green vegetables such as puha, cress, &c. —e.g., ' protective foods ' — keeps skin affections at a lower level in their charges than mere application of specific ointments. " The same general findings as yearly statistically reported by Dr. Turbott emerged—viz., the Maori superiority in physique, first-class nutrition, perfect sets of teeth, healthy throats, and freedom from goitre, coupled with the greater incidence among them of skin-infections, respiratory disease, gingivitis, nasal catarrh, and eye and ear troubles." Dr. Cook, Medical Officer of Health (North Auckland), reports: — " If possible Native schools have received increased attention both from myself and from the District Nurses. I have mentioned already that another thousand Native children were weighed and measured for research purposes. "If anything, the amount of skin-disease is decreasing in Native schools. This has not been accomplished without a good deal of opposition from the Maori adults, but this has been overcome, and now both the teachers and the Natives themselves appreciate more what has been done for them. " On the whole it can be said that nutrition of Native school children has very much improved during the past year: this is probably accounted for by the increasing amount of work available for Natives, and perhaps by better food habits. " Special attention was paid to the two most northerly Native schools in New Zealand—namely, Te Kao and Te Hapua. Te Hapua is noteworthy in that there are no cows in the settlement, and consequently no milk, so that it is probably unique for New Zealand to have a school of 100 pupils who are not receiving milk in any form. These children were weighed and measured, and at the present moment a comparison is being attempted between their heights and weights and those of Native children in other schools. " A special visit was paid to Te Kao and Te Hapua schools in September, that being the worst month of the year from the point of view of nutrition. In the Te Hapua school a very small proportion of malnutrition was discovered, and in Te Kao also a negligible amount. There is no doubt that this splendid result has been achieved by the two teachers in these schools, who have a great interest in the welfare of their pupils. Reports were sent to the Education Department regarding the splendid work of these teachers. " As there is no milk available in the Te Hapua area, and as it would not be possible to distribute fresh milk there, I recommend that a supply of dried milk be provided for this school, and this can be issued as part of a mid-day meal." Goitre. The problem of goitre shows little variation, the incidence for European children noted being 19-86 per cent., of which 16 34 per cent, is incipient. Attention has been drawn to the less incidence among Maoris. Dr. Champtaloup has forwarded a further report on observations in Taranaki, where, in spite of a high iodine content of soil, an increased goitre incidence was recorded in recent years:— " As in past years a careful check has been kept on the incidence of goitre— a total of 2,496 were examined. It is of interest to note that the figure appears to be almost identical with that of 1933, indicating a slight fall from that of 1934. " Figures for 1935 are as follows: — Per Cent. "Normal; .. 2.3-6 "X ..36-4 .. palpable"] «fix ■ ■ 3 n>°-° • • visibie j" 76 ' 4 per cent ' totaL " Comparing the last three years:— Normal. Palpable. Visible. Total. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. "1933 .. .. 23-2 35-8 42-0 77-8 "1934 .. .. 11-3 37-1 51-6 88-7 " 1935 .. .. 23-6 36-4 40-0 76-4

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