H—3l

About 2,000 children around the age of sixteen years were examined. They showed up reasonably well as regards fitness. One in three had some defect other than dental,, approximately one in ten carried themselves very badly, had dental decay, or showed an incipient goitre, while approximately one in twenty had defective vision. These were the more serious troubles and all are correctable or preventible. These findings, demonstrate the need for the extension of routine medical inspection into this age group. Mantoux tests which were done in 1,000 European children gave 176 positive reactions, or 17-6 per cent, of tuberculosis infection ; 128 Maori secondary-school boys, gave 38 positive Mantoux reactions, or 29*6 per cent. When the 176 positive Mantoux European children were x-rayed, only 8 showed tuberculosis lesions, 1 of these being of doubtful activity and continuing under chest clinic supervision, 1 showed a healed lesion, and 6 showed primary nodules only. Milk in Schools Scheme The Milk in Schools Scheme continued to operate during the year. In the various types of schools at which pasteurized milk was available, 162,000, or 70 per cent., of the approximate attendance of 231,500 accepted the \ pint ration. Malted milk was available to 9,500 children, and of these 8,300 accepted. A drink of cocoa made from raw milk was supplied to approximately 500 children. Apples in School Scheme Apples free of cost were supplied to pupils attending all types of schools during the apple season. A total of approximately 30,000 cases of apples were distributed. Health Camps Health camps operated throughout the year until they were closed at the end of November on account of the poliomyelitis epidemic. For the period under review, 3,243 children were admitted to permanent health camps and 60 to a summer health camp. Many more children were recommended by School Medical Officers than could be accommodated, the recommendations following ill health or for malnutrition showing no decrease over the last few years. To date it has not been possible to provide adequate facilities for health-camp treatment in the Auckland and South Auckland areas owing to construction difficulties at the partly completed King George V Memorial Health Camp at Pakuranga. Present indications are, however, that it may be possible to have this camp operating next year for a limited number of children. The Department is indebted to the volunteer workers in the New Zealand Federation of Health Camps (Inc.) for the efforts devoted towards managing King George Y Memorial Health Camps and also for their efforts in raising funds by means of the sale of health stamps, organized in close co-operation with the Post and Telegraph Department. The campaign for the year was most successful, with record sales of £107,000, of which the share of the Federation was £36,051. These moneys are used for the maintenance of children in the camps and also for the maintenance and replacement of buildings and equipment. Health Education The Department is endeavouring to provide aids to assist its own staff, teachers in all schools, and others interested in health education activities. Posters.—Eleven were printed during the year, to a total number of 100,000 copies. Four of these featured dental care, 4 dealt with food handling, 1 with finger-licking, and 1 with nursing recruitment. This brings the total of original posters produced over the last six years to 31. These posters circulate to schools, to interested groups of many kinds, and are displayed on railway-stations throughout the land.

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