ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE QUESTION.

Press, Volume L, Issue 149814, 30 May 1914, Page 12

ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE QUESTION.

"DISGRACEFUL FOOD."

MOTHERS TO BLAME.

Miss Cardale, who was also interviewed, spoke very strongly, concerning the management of the workmen's homes.. She stated that tho food given to children was disgraceful, the mothers bending to the children's wish and giving them all sorts of luxuries, mm ana eggs wero very often eaten with bread, butter, and jam; but that dia not happen so often as the children having nothing but biscuits and jam tor every meal. One case was cited where the mother prepared a wholesome meai of meat ana vege-, tatiieo and tho cailuren refused it because biscuits uiKt jam weie iv the cupboaid. Mosu ino&aers were not incaned to buy oatmeal and potatoes, but preieneu preserves in tins, as they were more easily prepared. Fresh cow's miik was seiaom used, as oondensed milk was iiauuy and could bo procured, at tho nearest grocer's shop, where there was a long-.tanding account. One lady told Miss Caruale that she had not had butter in the house for three weeks, and tho children did not care for dripping because there were sweets handy.

In some cases, Miss Cardale went on to say, tho mother went out in the morning before tho children returned home to lunch, and stayed at a friend's until late at night, leaving.the children to help themselves out of the cupboard. Some of the houses wero extremely, filthy, and it was no wonder that the husband preferred to spend his evenings in a public-house instead of in his own home. The dishes remained unwashed from day to day, and it wor the practice of* children to use one another's dishes without being The parents had absolutely no ilrae for their children, and it mattered little to them whether the child was nourished or not, so long as the health officer could not find fault.

Miss. Cardale summed up the question by saying that the parents were to blame entirely. The only remedy would be to make the parents, tho mothers in particular, carry out thenhousehold duties instead of hanging round the town.

ROTORUA SCHOOL-CHILDREN

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

ROTORUA, May 29. • A fact interesting in view oi the present discussion of- the malnutrition of children was mentioned at the annual meeting of the local branch of Society for the Health of Women and' Children, that Rotorua was the first branch to obtain permission for a Plunket *nnree to give lessons on hygiene to the senior girls in the schools of the district. Dr. Bertram stated that out of all Territorials ho had examined only one had a perfect set of teeth.