H.—-31

Weight and Height according to Father's Occupation. Children were divided into groups according to the occupation of the father, as follows : — Professional: (1) Architect; (2) chemist; (3) clergyman; (4) dentist; (5) doctor; (6) jouinalist; (7) lawyer, solicitor; (8) surveyor ; (9) teacher. (10) Clerical: Including accountant, agent, book-keeper, Civil servant, "Post Office," public servant, secretary, and similar occupations. (11) Shops, Trading, &c. : Auctioneer, barber, bookseller, butcher, chemist, hairdresser, hotelkeeper, " merchant," photographer, shop-assistant, storekeeper, traveller, warehouseman. (12) Industrial (higher) : Blacksmith, bricklayer, carpenter, contractor, electrician, engineer, linesman, "manager," mechanic, "operator," painter, plumber, policeman, "Public Works," " Railways," and similar occupations. (13) Labouring, &c. : Carrier, caretaker, driver, navvy, porter, seaman, watchman, watersider, " worker." (14) Farming. (15) Not stated. The children of farmers are tallest, being closely followed by those of professional men. With regard to weight, however, farmers' children are seen to be markedly heavier than the average, the difference increasing with age, while the children of professional men, though taller than the average, show no excess in weight. It is to be noted that the superiority of farmers' children is most pronounced at 13 years —i.e., period when food and fresh air, &c., are most in demand. Investigations in various parts of Europe and America agree in showing the superiority of the children of the well-to-do classes over those of the less privileged, both with regard to height and weight. Terman, in the " Hygiene of the School Child," page 37, says, "In some cases social class is even more potent in determining size than race itself." In New Zealand, however, the average of well-being is at least as great as, and probably greater than, in any other country. Extremes of poverty and riches found in older lands and incidental to industrialism are absent, the necessities for healthy growth being available for almost all. It follows that superior social status does not give such distinctive advantages in nurture and in education in New Zealand as it apparently does in older lands.

Table 7. —Heights by Father's Occupation (Inches).

Table 7a. —Weights by Father's Occupation (Pounds).

Farmers' children heavier than average, difference increasing with age ; children of professional men, although taller than average, show no excess in weight. Height and Weight by Age and Parentage. Approximately five thousand children were divided into groups as follows : (1) Both parents born in New Zealand ; (2) one parent born in New Zealand and one abroad ; (3) both parents born abroad. A comparison of the average height and weight of different groups at various ages failed to establish definite superiority in any group with regard to height. With regard to weight, no marked difference is to be noted between groups (1) and (2), though there i» evident a consistent slight advantage in the average of group (1) to that of group (3). As New Zealand's population is over 90 per cent. British stock, in view of the superior stature and weight of New Zealand children to those of Great Britain (already quoted), results suggest either the influence of selection in immigrants to this country or a rapid approximation to the New Zealand type on the part of their children. It is interesting to note that Dr. Harvey-Sutton found that Australian children with two Australian-born parents were taller and heavier than those with one Australianborn parent, and showed even greater superiority in height and weight over those with two parents born abroad.

61

ProfesAge. | g ; ona i Clerical. Shops. Industrial. Labouring. Farming. 10 years 6 months to 11 years 5 months 55-1 54-4 54-5 54-4 54-4 55-1 ] 1 years 6 months to 12 years 5 months 56-7 56-7 56-3 55-8 56-4 56-8 12 years 6 months to 13 years 5 months 58-75 58-4 58-2 58-1 58-2 58-8 Farmers' children taller than average by 0-4 in. ; children of professional men nearly as tall as those of farmers.

ProfcS" i Age. <jional Clerical. Shops. Industrial. Labouring. Farming. I I 10 years 6 months to 11 years 5 months 724 70-7 72-1 71-6 .. 74-2 11 years 6 months to 12 years 5 months 77-5 78-7 78-1 77-3 77-8 80-8 12 years 6 months to 13 years 5 months 85-4 85-5 85-3 85-8 85-2 90-5