respiratory trouble which if not promptly cleared up may leave permanent lung damage in later life, i.e. chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis and tuberculosis. (2) Bowel troubles are often seen, i.e. epidemic diarrhoea with vomiting, dysentery and occasionally, typhoid fever. These conditions are due to infections from poor sanitation and also improper feeding methods. Too many children collapse and die suddenly from gastroenteritis. (3) Discharging ears—Otitis media is prevalent in this district and despite advice and proper medication is difficult to clear up. The germ reaches the inner side of the ear drum through the nose. Most mothers find the task of regularly cleaning the ear and instilling drops too troublesome and give up practical treatment with the result that the child reaches adulthood handicapped by being partially or totally deaf. This also retards the child's progress through school. Any infant not able to say words by the age of two years should be given a hearing test by an ear specialist. (4) Nutritional anaemia—this preventable blood condition is also found too often. It is caused mainly by a deficiency of iron in the diet, i.e. not enough meat, eggs and greens. It can also be controlled by giving the mother extra iron during the ante-natal period. (5) Unsightly skin complaints are still seen too frequently and are usually due to neglect, over-crowding and lack of cleanliness. This applies to scabies and impetigo, both of which respond to proper treatment. (6) Lastly I would mention the high mortality rate due to accidents in this group. It is not realised how far a small child can scramble or toddle in a short time—a moment's inattention and the child has fallen into a well or a river or pulled a pot full of boiling water over itself, or swallowed some kerosene. It therefore behoves parents to be watchful at all times when young children are around. At this age immunisation against old killing diseases like whooping cough, diphtheria and, lately, infantile paralysis, are carried out by District Nurses and doctors.

SCHOOL CHILDREN On the whole this group is well catered for; their general health and posture being good. Besides receiving a daily quota of pure milk, free dental treatment and enough sport and physical drill to keep them fit, they are seen regularly by medical officers and nurses and are inoculated against tuberculosis when necessary, and typhoid fever during outbreaks. The deaf, crippled, mentally retarded and under-nourished are, with the consent of the parents, admitted to the appropriate hospitals, homes or camps for proper treatment and supervision. Parent-Teacher Associations, Welfare and Vocational Guidance Officers also play their part in promoting the child's well-being. The group of ailments previously mentioned are again seen—bronchitis with wheezy chests due to bronchospasm or asthma, discharging ears with, at times, impaired hearing, and, in the rural districts especially, the usual crop of scabies and impetigo due to poorer housing conditions. Heart trouble due to previous attacks of rheumatic fever is occasionally found. Here, again, too many are injured or killed in accidental falls from horses, trees, bicycles and motor-vehicles—especially tractors—or drowned through carelessness. To prevent all this wastage of valuable lives— (1) more children should be taught to swim; (2) more adults taught the Holger-Neilsen resuscitative method; (3) extra care taken when children are on tractors and also more care on the part of motorists near school buses, or where children are playing. In passing, I would like to mention another aspect of the child's development (mental instead of physical) which concerns all responsible citizens who desire inter-personal and inter-racial harmony. The function of education besides providing sound knowledge and understanding is the formation of decent attitudes in the child, not only to himself and his family, but to all people who comprise today's imperfect society. Many parents—pakeha and Maori alike—hand their dislikes and prejudices to their children. Failure, therefore, to inculcate wholesome attitudes in the child often leads in later life to certain social evils—to mention only delinquency at the teenage level and discourtesy and hostile racial feelings at the adult level.

ADOLESCENCE This large exuberant group, apart from pubertal troubles like acne and growing-up pains, on the whole enjoys good physical health. The commonest disorder here is psychological in origin. Each year many young people of both races make normal progress through the various stages to physical, intellectual and emotional maturation. They settle down in suitable employment, find healthy outlets in hobbies and group activities and become adjusted to adult life. On the other hand, through faulty upbringing, unhappy childhood experiences or some moral defect, many young people fail to make this adjustment.

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY Regarding our own delinquents, who by their actions bring shame on their families and disrepute to the race, I consider the main causes to be:— (1) Free and easy upbringing and too much latitude allowed, resulting in their growing up without any decent aim in life and with no respect for authority—parental or otherwise. (2) Lack of guidance and supervision of those in the immediate post-school years. Many of