H.—3l

Heights. Comparative results are illustrated in graphs, figs. 1 and 2, and the larger measurements in the case of New Zealand children will be noted, particularly in the case of girls. For boys the figures approximate those of Toronto, except that there is a 0-6 in. greater height at the age of 11. For girls the greater height is well marked throughout, showing a maximum at 12| years, where New Z aland girls are 1 in. taller than those in all other countries mentioned, with the exception of girls in Toronto, who, as in the case of the boys, tend to approximate nearer to the New Zealand standard. Goitre and Excess of New Zealand Girls in Height. —School medical statistics for 1926 show that approximately 24 per cent, of New Zealand school-children suffer from goitre, of which 18 per cent, is incipient. It is interesting to note that this has apparently not prejudicially affected the average growth of the New Zealand girl. The desirability of a comparison of the heights and weights of goitrous and non-goitrous children is indicated, and in a future survey this point will be given consideration. The corresponding figures in the case of weights are shown in Graphs 3 and 4. For boys the New Zealand figures are at least equal to those referring to other countries, while, as in the case of heights, the girls show a well-marked excess. It is to be noted that, as the proportion of country children in our survey was comparatively low, the New Zealand figures determined are really less than the true average for the whole Dominion, since, as will be seen later, country children show superiority in growth over city children. The exact interpretation of these comparative results is complicated by lack of knowledge of the conditions under which weights are taken in different countries, also by ignorance of the seasonal variance in rates of growth related to the time of year at which measurements were taken.

Table 5. —Ratio Standing and Sitting Height.

BOAS: AMERICAN CHILDREN (BOTH SEXES).

Sitting Height. Measurements with regard to sitting height are indicated in Tables 1 and 2. A comparison was made with the data relating to Glasgow children quoted by Tully in the Journal of Hygiene, 24th November, 1924, and the comparative results are shown below. It will be noted that Glasgow children are smaller in both sitting and standing height; but the interesting fact appears that the ratio of sitting to standing height is less in the case of New Zealand children, indicating that New Zealand children are relatively longer in the legs.

B—H. 31.

57

Boys. Girls. , Age. j Percentage 1 I Percentage Standing Sitting j Sitting to Standing i Sitting Sitting to Height. Height. ! Standing Height. j Height. j Standing Height. ! I Height. NEW ZEALAND. In. In. In. In. 11 .. .. 54-7 28-3 51-7 54-4 28-0] 51-5 12 .. .. 56-1 28-7 51-1 56-7 29-2 51-5 13 .. .. 57-8 29-4 50-8 59-1 30-3 51-2 14 . . .. 59-8 30-2 50-5 60-55 30-0 51-1 GLASGOW. 10 .. .. 49-9 26-23 52-5 49-6 26'0 52-37 11 .. .. 51-6 26-96 | 52-22 51-2 26-78 52-35 12 .. .. 52-7 27-18 ! 51-53 53-6 27-83 51-84 13 .. .. 54-7 28-21 51-15 55-9 28-98 51-56

i Percentage Age. Standing Height. | Sitting Height, j Sitting to Standing Height. cm. cm. 11 .. 1,308 681 52-0 12 .. 1,367 709 51-8 13 .. .. 1,384 712 51-6 14 .. .. 1,467 752 51-1