MALNUTRITION

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1933, Page 4

MALNUTRITION

AMONG CHILDREN IN N.iZ. ; , MINISTER CORRECTS REPORT. 'Per Hre.of Aasoriation— Copyright;)' WELLINGTON, May 29. The Minister of Health, Mr' Young has asked for a correction of a : Prbss Association message from Christchurch on the 19th. instant, which 'credited him with stating" that statistics com;, piled by the Government health authorities show that there i, 5 no evidence of malnutrition ’among, the school children in New Zealcnd. Mv Young says that he macre no.such statement. A correct account of his statement is that records are bei-ig taken at vaiious schools throughout the country, -and that it- is quite clear that there is no undue prevalence _ ot malnutrition. There is r.o doubt,, however. that there are -many children swho are suffering from a .shortage of food, who could do- with' ' more nourishing food. The* opinions;• of 6 chool medical officers in various districts; were ..that there is am increase in the percentage of school children who -are , suffering from malnutrition. There 1 is no increase iii malnutrition in the country dis* tricts, but in the-'citiejj' -a sittail prO* pßrtio.u of the children’ belongihg‘..eg* peciaily to the- kindergarten- and primer cia6s age groups, ighowed clin j ical signs of malnutrition, their food -being poor in • 'quality rather than quantity. ... . ' • ’ * Th e Minister said' that'AgeherM vital (statistics showed the death rate ■ had remained consistently 'Tow; 'throughout the period of the : ' v depr*ssion ; ‘and for 1932 it reached the lowest level on -record. being 8 decimal‘o2 per thousand of the mean population, Measured by t-he mortality and morbidity rate, - the economic crisis had; not yet- shown qpydetrimental effect on-the public,health: ■ A. V, - . ■ 'Y ■ ' ■