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"But why write about the food problem in England?" Miss A. E. Lorimer, M.Sc., A.I.C., asked "Salient" when we called at her laboratory to obtain information on Food Values. "The position in New Zealand is so very serious, and there is a possibility that a few people may endeavor to do something about it if you demonstrate an evil existing all around them. New Zealanders feel merely a vague pity if they hear that people are starving thousands of miles away; if they knew the extent of malnutrition in New Zealand to-day they would be roused to action."
Miss Lorimer, an M.Sc. of Canterbury College, is in charge of the Laboratory of the City Engineer's Department at Wellington. She has made a wide, painstaking, and scientific study of the nutrition problem in New Zealand, and has written widely on the subject in New Zealand papers and periodicals. We take pleasure in presenting to our readers the following article by Miss Lorimer, written specially for "Salient," hoping they will realize its extreme importance.
New Zealand is alleged to be a country flowing with milk and honey, on which the sun shines in perpetuum, and in which the whole community are All Black footballers, whose toughness is the envy of the whole world.
Yet when we look around at the million and three quarter inhabitants of New Zealand, we find that we are far from being a healthy,
Official figures are informative on this point.
If the report of the Director- General of Health for the year ending
For instance, of the 100,000 children examined, 37 per cent, had notifiable defects.
The figures for goitre, dental caries and enlarged tonsils are perhaps the most significant, as these three diseases are the direct result of wrong feeding.
What would a similar survey of the adult population
We know that one person in every thirty-two in New Zealand in a public hospital every year and this figure does not include those in private or maternity homes.
Can we say that we are in any way a healthy nation? Official figures say nothing about the amount of digestive disturbances, headaches, goitre, flat chests, neuritis, neuralgia, sciatica and rheumatism with which our population is riddled. How many adults can honestly say that they never have an ache or a pain of any description? How many men and women have to take aspirin to help them through the day? The figures for the total consumption of aspirin and phenacetin in New Zealand would surely be informative if they wore available.
Yet a healthy adult should not have aches or pains of any description. He should not have to suffer the indignities (and the pain) of an appendicitis operation, or the expurgation of his goitre, tonsils or adenoids. He should not have to put up with the inefficiencies which arise from his catarrh, his rheumatism or his liability to infection. All these diseases are nutritional diseases which arise from eating wrong food over a period of years.
Again we refer to official figures.
Dividing total consumption by total population we find that in New Zealand we eat about one pound of meat, half a pound of white flour, six or seven ounces of cane sugar, half a pound of potatoes, two thirds of a pint of milk and two thirds of an egg per person per day. We eat 2-3
These figures mean that practically two thirds of the food which we eat per day, is derived from cane sugar, red meat and white flour!
In other words, two thirds of the food which the average New Zealander eats is practically devoid of vitamins and minerals, and he cheerfully expects the other third to provide him with enough minerals and vitamins to make his body function properly!
What are the implications of these facts? To answer this, it is necessary to consult the newer knowledge of nutrition which has been so carefully worked out during the past twenty years.
The findings of the newer knowledge of nutrition are most interesting, and have a real bearing on the prevalence of ill health (mental and physical) in New Zealand. Nutrition experts such as Sherman, McCollum and McCarrison (to mention only three) have studied the diets of the healthy races of the world, and have compared these with the food of the so-called civilized races. The average composition of the more common food stuffs have also been worked out. Vitamins have been isolated, and their occurrence in foods has been defined in terms of international units. After twenty years intensive work on the physiological requirements of the human body, nutrition experts are getting nearer to knowing why the human body needs certain foods, and what goes wrong when the essential food constituents are not supplied.
When all this knowledge is condensed, we find that, unless every practice of food which passes the lips of any human being contains its maximum quota or vitamins and minerals, then some essential fond element is not being eaten in sufficient quantity.
Naturopaths are loud in their advocacy of natural foods, because they contain "life forces," which the science of nutrition is now defining in terms of minerals and vitamins. Call them what you like, the fact remains that only the freshest of foods, whether they be fruits, vegetables, milk, flesh or grain foods have their maximum quota of these life-giving elements. Naturopaths are quite right in their insistence on natural, unrefined foods, because when nutrition experts calculate the amount of certain foods necessary to supply adequate amounts of vitamins, they are appalled to find that. unless all food is extremely fresh and unrefined, the dietary will certainly be deficient in one or other of the food necessities. Small deficiency over many years lead as inevitably to disease or break-down of the body, as the leaving out of an essential building material leads to the crumbling of a building in time. No builder would construct a building without nails, yet so many New Zealanders try to build bodies without minerals and vitamins.
Returning now to the food consumption of New Zealand, it can be asked whether the major foods of New Zealand are the ones which contain the minerals and vitamins?
According to the official figures already quoted (which are the most reliable information available at the moment) New Zealanders live on red meat, butter, cane sugar, white bread, cakes, biscuits and potatoes. Yet among the protein foods, red meat is perhaps the most deficient and among the cereal foods, white flour products are the most devitalized. Cane sugar, whether it be white or brown, is practically nothing; but sugar and is useless except as an energy producer. Potatoes which have been peeled, boiled and mashed, are also robbed of their vital elements, so is it any wonder that New Zealand is unhealthy? is it any wonder that Crawford Somerset found 45 per cent, malnutrition among the school-children of Oxford (Canterbury), when their mothers food them on little but meat, potatoes, rakes and strong tea?
The League or Nations Nutrition Committee has brought forward its suggestions as to an adequate dietary for a human being, and this is what it says:—
Every human BEING needs a pint of milk, two helpings of green vegetables and some first class protein every day. All cereal food- should be eaten whole. The report also insists on the importance of fat fish, such as salmon and herrings, and the organs of animals, such as liver, kidneys, etc., as food. Eggs, milk, cheese, fruit and vegetables are defined as the protective food stuffs and the report stresses the importance of these foods in adequate dietary.
If a committee of experts such as the League of Nations Committee stresses the importance of milk and greens, and whole cereals as foods, surely it is just plain common sense to follow their advice. This report points out to us in New Zealand the dramatic error of our food habits.
If this report is considered seriously, surely we can now understand why 97 per cent, of our school children have dental carles, why twenty per cent, of them (at least) have goitre, why measles and influenza spread like the plague through the community.
The fundamental and real cause of all these diseases, is the food which we eat. We do not supply our bodies with the materials which they need, therefore they break down.
Gone are the days when malnutrition merely meant lack of food. Gross emaciation due to lack of food is no longer the sole meaning of the word. In New Zealand, most of us get enough to eat because we are not hungry, but the fact is indisputable that we do not eat food of the right type. Quantity of food is not our trouble, but Quality.
The average New Zealander seems fundamentally to prefer his white bread, potatoes and meat to his spinach and milk. This is the first problem. The emphasis in all food matters must be moved away front meat and bread to the protective foodstuffs.
As an example of psychologically wrong food propaganda, the recent utterances of Dr. Elizabeth Gunn on school lunches are a perfect example. Three quarters of a column of newsprint is devoted to telling mothers that home-made fish and chips, meat plus and fried sausages are suitable for a child's lunch, in a few sentences, she dismisses the protective foods such as milk, fruit and carrots as food which are desirable but unimportant. Greens such as lettuce or parsley are not mentioned. Whole meal bread is considered "faddy." Does Dr. Gunn know more about nutrition than the League of Nations Nutrition Committee? If so, we are willing to accept her emphasis on meat and cold fried sausages, but If not, we would prefer to point out the necessity of the milk, fruit and greens part of the lunch, and leave the boiled sweets, sausages and meat pies until such time as our nation has become so healthy that the ingestion of such food will not seriously unbalance the daily intake.
If we want further evidence that New Zealanders are not "nutrition minded." we have only to pay 1/6-at any restaurant in New Zealand for a meal to realise just how badly planned and cooked is the average New Zealand meal. Soup thickened with white flour, soggy potato, watery soda-cooked cabbage, a minute portion of red meat and badly-cooked apple with margarine pastry constitutes the average menu. How much of the original vitamin is left in these foods after they are cooked? It is the same with boarding house or restaurant roods. Universally, the vegetables are ruined, the fish (if any is smothered in a white flour batter, the bread is white there are too few (if any) salads, and the amount of milk supplied is always less than a pint per person daily.
Whose fault is it that New Zealanders eat so badly? That the food served in private homes, restaurants, hotels and boarding houses is so ill-chosen and so badly cooked? Surely, it is the fault of the women, because they are the ones who order the food and plan the meals for the family. If all the women of New Zealand who planned meals knew more of the fundamental facts of nutrition, they would not serve the foods which are going to give their families deficiency diseases when they grow up.
Yet, even if the women of New Zealand did stop cooking their vegetables with soda, and loading their families with white flour and sugar concoctions (which they call cakes), there are still many pitfalls into which they would unconsciously fall when they purchased their food supplies. Women unfortunately do not know what they are up against when they ask for as simple a thing as whole meal bread, or fresh fruits and vegetables. There are so many difficulties in their way. Supposing for instance a housewife decides to feed her family on their pint of milk per day, and their greens and their fruit and their fish and eggs and cheese and their whole grain foods, and supposing that she has intelligently planned these into an adequate menu, and convinced her family that cakes and meat pies and sausages are not the best food obtainable, she is still up against the economic difficulty of finding the money with which to purchase these foods.
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If no fruit or vegetables can be grown at home, the average cost of such a dietary at present Wellington prices is about 15/- per individual per week. A finally of two adults and two growing children therefore requires £3 per week for food alone! The basic wage is £4/1¾, and the average rent in Wellington is not less than 30/- per week, so is it any wonder than we do not eat an adequacy of the protective food stuffs?
Yet, in spite of these facts, if the amount of money which is now spent on meat and cakes and lollies by the average household were to be transferred to the purchase of eggs, fish, fruits and milk, and if every household made an effort to grow some greens, even if they only grow a window-box of parsley and cress, then the improvement in the health of Now Zealand would be enormous, and the saving in dentists bills would eke out the budget considerably.
There are more difficulties, too, which still have to be surmounted before food can be purchased for its full food-value.
How many people know that, for
Even so, knowing all these facts, we still want to know why certain things are as they are.
•
Why salmon and herrings should be deleted from the import list when these are the only foods outside cod liver oil, which contain vitamin D?
Why our Pure Foods and Drugs Act cannot be extended to embrace the declaration of the contents of all patent medicines and proprietary
Why some better system of marketing vegetables and fruit cannot be worked out to benefit the consumer?
Why we spend so many thousands of pounds on new hospital wings and denial clinics, instead of buying oranges and milk and cod-liver-oil for our children?
Why, in short, we put an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, instead of a fence at the top?
As a contribution to the health of New Zealand, the individual can make himself or herself more healthy by:—
Asking for fresh fruit and vegetables in restaurants.Refusing to buy counterfeit patent foods and white bread.Supporting such organisations as the N.Z. Women's Food Value League and the Consumers' League.Growing some greens at home and eating them whenever possible.Cutting down the consumption of cane-sugar and eating instead such fruits as dates, raisins and other dried fruits.
Mankind's fundamental functions, as Professor Murphy has no doubt often advised you, are to feed and breed.
Mankind does both very badly. It resents any suggestion that it shall breed scientifically or control its breeding. It cannot feed itself adequately, and invariably feeds itself badly.
The reason is obvious, and very easy to state. If a great number of the people in a given community depend for their livelihood upon buying food cheap and selling it dear. It is only natural that certain things will happen:
One could argue like this for hours. But the palpable effects of underfeeding and malnutrition may be seen on every side. Their course is usually disguised with great ingenuity by manufacturers of inferior foods; great advertising campaigns can inculcate upon the people utterly false ideas concerning food values. And these ideas are almost unshakable.
"Salient" endeavored some weeks ago to expose some of the harmful lies contained in advertisements for products used every day. Our printers, acting under legal advice, were unwilling print our article. Their refusal was dictated by sound judgment—the power of the great food companies is too great for their activities to be safely questioned by private persons. The offensive article, however, has now been distributed to University students in a cyclostyled form. In that article, and in this special issue of "Salient," you will discover countless examples of the effects described above.
The problem of nutrition has never been so popular ns it is today. There are more books on food and dietary sold now than at any, time during the past twenty years. But the fear of libel action and the lack of scientific and systematic study of food values makes the majority of these books useless. We are besieged by cranks who mix Christ and orange Juice for our consumption in unpalatable proportions.
There is little disagreement between those attacking the problem scientifically, as is ably shown in our leading article this week.
This special issue is an endeavor to state the problem, give examples, and provide a solution.
(From "Don't Believe it, says the Doctor," by A. A. Thomen, M.D.)
"An examination of the chemical composition of cocoa might lead one to suppose that it was of considerable nutritive value. But that would be a mistake. Theoretically cocoa is a valuable food, but practically it is not, the reason being that so little of it can be taken at a time.
It takes about 1-3 of an ounce of cocoa to make a breakfast cupful of the beverage, and, assuming the average composition, this would yield about 40 calories. It would, therefore, require fully seventy-five such cupful to yield the total amount of potential energy demanded or the body dally, obviously an impossible an impossible quantity. Of course, if the beverage is prepared entirely with milk and plenty of sugar, it becomes an important food, but that it is due to the milk and sugar, and not to the cocoa."
(R. Hutchison, "Food and Dietetics.")
"A remarkable recent development has been a craze for consuming glucose or dextrose. Although it is undoubtedly invaluable in medical practice, dextrose can have no advantage, as far as the normal person is concerned, over jam and honey. However, glucose sweets are all the vogue, and the tendency is to have it incorporated with such articles as cocoa, ice cream, fruit syrups, etc.
"Provided that glucose is regarded as a substitute for cane sugar, no objection can be taken to its use, but the tendency is to make extravagant claims for it and to transform pleasant foods into quack medicines. . . .
"Pure dextrose complying with the B.P. Standard can be landed in New Zealand at about 3d. per pound. . . . The reader (of advertisements) is asked to use this dextrose as an ordinary everyday foodstuff at 2/6 per pound."
(R. L. Andrew, Assistant Dominion
"No more diet fads. Eat more bread—the basis for a properly balanced diet. Bread is rich in, carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, vitamins and cellulose."
This is the first special issue of "Salient" this year. It is hoped that in the eyes of students it may justify itself.
The topic of nutrition was chosen because the problem it presents is urgent and widespread, yet almost universally neglected. It is certain that students, in common with the general public, are disturbingly ignorant of the existence and menace of malnutrition in New Zealand and elsewhere.
Yet no one reading Miss Lorimer's excellent statement of the case and the additional evidence appearing in this issue could remain unconvinced.
Why is it that this knowledge, so important to every man, woman and child in New Zealand, is so restricted? Is it not everyone's right to be kept informed of such a serious matter—by the "enlightened organs of public opinion"? Yet what do we find? In the newspapers there is a conspiracy of silence—and a plethora of advertisements for patent foods and medicines.
Is it too much to say that one is the corollary of the other? That for the newspaper proprietors the revenue from their advertisements is very much more a matter for concern than is the health and welfare of their subscribers?
Malnutrition is admittedly rampant in New Zealand, but the newspapers have nothing to say, for they have nothing to gain.
If they were to publish the formulae, etc., of many of the processes which they permit to be advertised in their columns, it would have no other effect than to destroy the ensuing demand for those processes. And, despite the claims of truth and justice, one never Bites the hand that feeds, does one? Especially if one is a newspaper proprietor. Or even the Controller of a Commercial Broadcasting System.
In face of such vested interest in falsehood, individual action may seem futile, but there is still much that can be done. It should be the duty of everyone to spread a knowledge of the facts of the case as widely as they are able, to support organizations working to this end, and to help towards the realisation of the practical measures of reform outlined in this week's "Salient." The two articles, "Malnutrition in New Zealand" and "Truth in Advertising" should certainly provide the requisite "righteous indignation."
"Charnaux demonstration during this week only. . . . Realise that Charnaux Corsets leave you free to live!"
—C. Smith's Advertisement, "Evening Post," 30/5/39.
"Mr. W. J. Gaudin, another member of the Fire Board . . . believed that the best way to prevent a big fire was to put it out in its incipient stages."
—"Evening Post," 31/5/39.
"While I do not want to increase the Government's embarrassment at the present time . . ."
—Hon. Adam Hamilton.
Big Sabotage plot in England
Royal Visit To N.Z.—"Dominion" Billboard. 8/2/39.
An interesting visitor to Wellington this week is Mr. J. Krishnamurti. He is usually described as a Hindu philosopher, but actually he is an Indian by birth only—his outlook is international.
Krishnamurti claims that through understanding suffering he has become ecstatically free and that others may do likewise. But he does not offer any set rules—only suggests that people try to think and act for themselves, cultivate an alert, questioning attitude, face problems instead of avoiding them, and in so doing discover the Reality or which we are practically unconscious.
Krishnamurti will speak at the Dominion Museum Hall on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday evenings, the 7th, 8th and 9th June, at 8 p.m. Those interested should obtain their tickets from the D.I.C. as early as possible, as the accommodation is extremely limited.
Contributions of a literary, opinionative and scientific nature are required for the National Student Publication to be launched early next term. Suggestions for a title for the paper arc also wanted.
Such a publication has never been attempted before, and the success of the first issue, therefore, will decide the future of the paper.
This is a scheme worthy of your support.
See that V.U.C. is represented. Address contributions to:
Press Bureau Correspondent. V.U.C.
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I wonder if you know of a lady student who might like to have a room and board with us. If she would give an hour's coaching to a girl (8) and boy (5) daily, and give a little light help some times, we would require about 25/- per week, or less If she had any meals out (full board, 25/-).
My husband was recently Lecturer in Surveying and Engineering at Christchurch (Canterbury University) and is now working for the Government in town planning.
It is two minutes from tram here (2 sections town) and easily
Perhaps you would kindly hand on this inquiry to any interested.
Thanking you in anticipation.
After reading a contemporary American gossip column we emerged envious and depressed. Who could hope to attain the standard of the following item? (which is genuine, by the way—we defy anyone here to invent its equal):
What veddy, veddy socialite is acting blase, but is really burning because a ciggy gal is making goo-goo eyes at her ga-ga guy?
Brooding quietly over this and allied pieces of information we did try a little in the same style. For instance:
We hear that sweetie-pie Marie Best likes to go sunrise-gazing by bicycle after visiting one of our swell-and- swelter social niteries.
Or even—
One of the Dramatic Club's erstwhile incandescent has just staggered forth from the chloroform and gargle house.
But we think not.
Speaking of the Dramatic Club, a committee (admittedly self-appointed) which sat in the caf, the other night regarding each new arrival with x-ray eyes, was forced to the conclusion that there are no longer any handsome heroes at Varsity.
Discovery by Eddie Irving: That the police force does not appreciate alms.
Astrologist's note: Brookie was born on the 6th of June. A curious soul consulted the Aspro Year Book for illumination and found "You can pick a Gemini every time by his habit of gesticulating when he talks. His bands and arms are always brought into play to illustrate every point. He never sits still for long, nor is he silent for long either! But he hears everything that goes on, and is eternally curious."
Seen at the Left Book Club meeting; Jack Aimers practicing on Mr. Scotney that simple, sincere handshake and smile with which he hopes to greet Australia.
[ Nota Bene—In all future issues of "Salient" there will be published a full list of all the noteworthy intellectual and cultural events of the coming week—both inside and outside the University.]
It is hoped that this service, as well as the similar list of sports fixtures on the back page, will be of real value to students.
All club secretaries who wish the meeting of their clubs to be included under "Things To Come," should see that full details are in the hands of the Editor by 7 p.m. on the Thursday prior to issue. Otherwise omissions must be taken as a matter of course.
The Editor will be grateful to hear of any meetings occurring outside the University which are suitable for inclusion. It is desired to make the service as comprehensive as possible.
Envelopes containing details of meetings, etc., should be marked "Things To Come."
Phoenix Club. Mr. E. C. Simpson will speak on
Full Time Students' Meeting. Subject— "Full Time Students' Representation on the Students' Association Executive. Friday, June 9. at 1 p.m. Room B2.
Lectures in Public Administration. Dr. W. B. Sutch—will speak
Free Discussions Club. Rabbi Katz will speak on "
Krishnamurti.—Wednesday. June 7; Thursday, June 8; and Friday, June 9, at 8 p.m. Dominion Museum Lecture Hall. Admission: 1s 6d at D.I.C.
Lotte Lehmans — Thursday, June 8; Saturday, June 10. Grand Opera House. Reserved seats at 5/-, 7/6, and 10/- available at the D.I.C.
"The Aeolians." — Thursday, June 8, at 8 p.m. Concert Chamber, Town Hall. Admission: 3/-, 2/-, (reserved—D.I.C.) and 1/-.
•
H
Well.
Miss A. E. Lorimer, the author of the article on "Malnutrition in New Zealand," was asked to comment on a specimen Weir House weekly diet submitted to her. Weir House was chosen as a typical example of the New Zealand boarding-house.
"In the first place," said Miss Lorimer, "there's not nearly enough milk, and secondly there's far too much meat—often, apparently, you have it three times a day! Then there are too few vegetables—one green vegetable only once a day; and the potatoes are rarely cooked in their skins, which is essential if their goodness is to be preserved. Fresh fruit is provided only once a week, and salads only occasionally—both should be on the menu dally. Fish should be eaten at least three times a week, and should be steamed or baked, not fried in white flour batter. The bread should be whole meal—real whole meal and not just "brown" bread, which is merely white bread coloured brown."
"Salient" pointed out to Miss Lorimer that Weir House had to maintain a certain reserve fund, and the management had to be very careful in matters of finance.
Whether or not a radical improvement in this diet could be produced at no extra cost depends largely upon the price of vegetables, and whether vegetables can be grown on the premises.
It is so essential that our youth—and especially our University students —should be scientifically fed, that the management of establishments such as Weir House should consider the food question as one of paramount importance.
With proper instruction in the relative nutritive values of the various foods, a great improvement could be effected at no extra cost.
Weir House apparently supplies plenty of butter and cheese, and cooked fruit, and the requisite amount of liver. But the diet on the whole is unsatisfactory.
As Professor Huxley said in his commentary during the famous Nutrition Film, "No complete solution of our problem to possible without considerable economic changes, either by providing the lowest paid members of the community with increased purchasing power or with cheap or free milk or other protective foods. But such a solution is a difficult long-term matter which will need all the community's patience and ingenuity. Meantime, for a large number of people, particularly in the higher income classes, much good can be done within the present limitations by teaching the proper choice and use of foods."
"Salient" offers the following practical measures for the consideration of University students, and those who are in authority:—
The seniors sustained their fourth defeat of the season on Saturday, losing to Johnsonville 0—21. With one win, a draw, and four losses, they have three competition points to their credit. It was almost a scratch team that took the field against Johnsonville, for no fewer than eight of the regular players were absent, most of them in Christchurch taking part in the inter-Island Varsity game. For this reason too much importance need not be attached to the defeat.
But poorly as they have done so far, there are still three teams below them. When the season began some hopes were entertained that University might do well in the championship. Those hopes have now vanished, but there is no reason why they should be supplanted by fears of relegation to the Second Division. There is talent in the team, and if one or two weaknesses, to which particular attention is drawn in the commentary appearing below, can be eliminated, better things should be in store.
After a good opening against Eastbourne and hard and close game against Marist, who have remained undefeated to date, the University side slumped against Poneke, giving on that occasion one of their worst exhibitions for years. This game was a shocking display of football and it was therefore pleasing to see an improvement shown in the subsequent games against Massey College. Wellington and Athletic. On the games played it call be said without fear or contradiction that the Varsity fifteen possesses one of the best packs or forwards that the Club has bad for several years. They are virile and dashing in the loose and, unlike most Varsity packs, they tackle well.
Burke the hooker has been showing good form and played his best game against Athletic. His hooking, is up to his own high standard. Meads and McNicol have been very solid and most consistent. Their selection for the North Island Varsity side is well deserved. Hansen is another who has maintained a high standard and McVeagh has confirmed opinions formed of him in the opening match. He is heady and solid, the type that would do well in a representative side. Eade seems to have struck form now and his game against Wellington was splendid. The two Shannons have been showing dash and are very keen.
In the backs Rae has been steadily improving. Against Marist and Poneke he did not appear to the best advantage, but in the games against Wellington and Athletic he has shown fine form. Against Wellington his performance was the best of any of the Varsity backs. The five-eighths have so far been weak. Several combinations have bean tried with varying success and the best combination so far seen in action appears to be that used against Athletic—Parker and Larkin.
Failure of the five-eighths to get quickly on top of their opposing markers has made the task of the three-quarters an invidious one, and until the five-eighths display form, the side must be severely handicapped. Of the three-quarters. Eastwood in his two games has been really good, despite very limited opportunities; O'Regan has been sound and purposeful; and Tricklebank, despite injuries which have hampered his play, good. Of all the inside backs Tricklebank alone seems to have the ability to lake advantage of the wind in kicking to gain distance. Young has shown dash but appears to lack defence and a knowledge of positional play, and until he gains this his great speed will be of little avail. Kissel has not been in his best form at fullback but is showing improvement and should before long gain the standard he attained in the latter part of last season, when he gained his New Zealand University Blue.
Summing up if can be said that the prospects for the future are brighter and the record of the side should improve. Since the opening game live matches have been played, three being lost and two drawn.
Mr. Jim Parker has put in a lot of valuable time coaching the side and there is no doubt that his work is making a great difference in the play of the team. It is to be regretted that the vital weakness in the five- eighths has caused the results to appear less favourable than they deserve to be.
Members of the side who gained places in the North island University team were Burke. Meads, McNicol and Hansen—forwards; and Rae and Kissel—backs. They are to be congratulated. Eastwood, the Victorian wing, was not available.
[South Island won by 20 to 13—Sports Ed.]
The College harriers combined with the Brooklyn and C.Y.M. Clubs for a run at Tawa Flat on Saturday, about 50 runners from the three clubs covering a course of approximately six miles. The country covered was admirably suited to cross-country running, and it was an appreciated change to get out of town and off bitumen roads. Despite the fact that the going was heavy at times and became increasingly so towards the end when many water-jumps were encountered. a good pace was maintained throughout.
The novice race run three weeks ago produced two likely runners in Caird and Colling wood, who finished fourth and sixth respectively. Both these men will continue to improve, and both should do well in inter club races. At Karori, Caird was running easily with the fast pack and impresses as a runner who would be quite at home on a rough day.
Morpeth is out again after a spell or a season. His fifth in the Sherwood was good work, and he was quite at home with the best at Tawa Flat. Powell is another new runner of whom more should be heard. With training both of these men will be in the first fight.
The Club is unfortunate in losing Jack Northey, who is being transferred to Auckland. He had just reached the stage when he would have been a valuable asset and he will be missed in inter-club events.
Inter-club racing will soon be with us and all members are exhorted to do some training. Some of the old hands who should know better are leaving their preliminary work too late. Take notice, Varsity Harriers, that the Dome Cup will be held on 24th June, and the club team should fill one of the minor placings!! In any case, how much more you enjoy the sport if you are fit.
Next Saturday the club is sending a team of eight runners to Dannevirke to compete in a 6¼ mile inter-club race there. The rest of the members will run from Varsity gymnasium, not from Thorndon as stated in the syllabus.
In recent years little success has attended the efforts of the playing members of the Women's Hockey Club. Last year heavy defeats in competition games had such an effect on enthusiasm and morale that two teams actually disbanded before the end of the season. This season the seniors are a much younger team than usual and we offer some comments on the players.
Doris Johansen (goal).—A new player. Has yet to prove her worth.
Winifreed Lawgood (left full-back). — A hard hitter but must tackle more.
Janet Bogle (right full-back).—Doing good work. Keep stick down and don't hit across mouth of goal.
Noline Anderson (left half).—Tackles well but must learn to clear.
Vesta Emmanuel (centre half).—Very useful on defensive play. Hits well but would improve if she kept more to her own position.
Margaret Wallace (right half).—Useful and energetic player.
Betty Fraser (right wing).—Good fast forward. Centres well.
Mary Frankish (right inner).—Not finite fast enough. I asses well.
Betty Stubbs (centre forward).—Much improved player but still weak on attack. Use left side more).
Nell Allardice (left inner).—A new player who will improve with practice.
Betty Rider (left wing).—A fast determined player. Sometimes spoils her play by retaining possession too long.
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At last! The Senior A team managed a win on Saturday—and that by one goal! After a period of considerable difficulty in fielding a team and a consequent run of defeats there seems to be some prospect of the reputation of Victoria basketball being saved. Island Bay Old Students team is playing its first year in the top grade and has had a win over Kia Ora who defeated last year's champion team on Saturday. This would point to V.U.C. staging a come-back to
Lower grade teams are experiencing great difficulty in settling down. Sickness has taken a heavy toll of players so that it is not yet possible to judge the material on hand. Heavy defeats so far do not necessarily mean that the play is so poor. It is to be hoped that nines will play together regularly now and show what future available material there is in the Club.
Amongst newcomers to the game this year who show promise as future Senior and Tournament players "Salient" has spotted Alison Stewart. Marie Norrie, Shirley Kay, Millicent Ince and Wynette Anderson. With most of this year's team available and several of the Senior B team on hand there will be hot competition for the Easter team in
Seniors v. Old Boys. Hataitai, 1.
Juniors 1st v. Kaiwarra, Kaiwarra.
Juniors 2nd v. Poneke, Wakefield, 1.
Juniors 3rd v. Tech. Old Boys, Wakefield. 2.
3rds, 1st v. Athletic. Wakefield, 3.
3rds, 2nd v. Johnsonville; Wakefield. 3.
All games at 2.43 p.m.
Weir has been prominent lately in the world of sport. Last week C. G. Wilson, by winning the Sherwood Cup, brought Weir once more into the limelight. Weir can perhaps be termed the nursery of the University Sporting World. From its portals have gone forth many of the College's Blues of recent years and with the sporting spirit keenly fostered as it is to-day. Weir should maintain its fine record.
Hockey, a game formerly frowned upon by Weir, has now come into its own. With the entry of a team in this year's fourth grade competition, Weir House can now boast of participation in all fields of Varsity Sport. Although most of the members of the team had never handled a hockey stick before the performances so far have been excellent. The first two games played with a fully representative team from members of the House resulted in victories against Wellington. 2-0 and against Petone, 5-1. Now that the holidays have ended and the team is again fully mustered, it is probable that the early promise shown will be continued. Cook, Rutherfurd, and Culliford are prominent in the forwards and half-backs, and Moss and Barton have been towers of strength in the back line.
In the final of the Weir House Table Tennis Tournament held recently. P. B. De la Mere vanquished R. Te Punga in one of the most exciting games witnessed at the House for years. Playing before an enthralled gallery De la More upheld his reputation for finished stroking. He won by 2 games to 1 after an evenly contested match in which Te Punga fought hard.
Billiards is a game also very popular at Weir at present. In the final of the Tournament held last, week Whitlock, playing brilliantly defeated the popular favourite James Halpin by 2 games to 0. Some of the breaks might have made even Lindrum envious.
And hail to Weir's golf champion. David Graham. North Island champion and probably the most promising golfer in New Zealand at the present time.
Who said harriers was not a sport demanding brain-work? Bill Robert- shawe must have done some fast thinking and talking when he hitch-hiked to Tawa Flat. (He says he
The students of Canterbury College must be congratulated on arranging a fine tournament and thanked sincerely for their hospitality, for billeting and entertainment were excellent.
It is generally realised that a play all tournament, involving five games, takes considerable toll of players vitality and, as was mentioned later at the hockey dinner, many participants in final matches were playing at a dead stop. Hagley Park, on which all games were held, is an excellent playing field, and an eye-opener to Wellingtonians. Unfortunately owing to the recent dryness of Canterbury's weather, everyone gained the impression that cement had been used for top-dressing in mistake for super phosphate. Blistered feet were common, and a small boom took place in the local market for plaster and salves.
All games were a pleasure by reason of first-class refereeing, and an excellent spirit of camaraderie unmarred by "unfortunate incidents."
Although the team was not the normal 1st XI, as many players could not travel, Victoria took third place in the tourney and, for the interest of readers. the scores of matches in which the College participated are shown hereunder:—
Victoria 4 v. Massey 1
Victoria 3 V. Canterbury A 6
Victoria 3 v. Auckland 2
Victoria 3 v. Canterbury B 3
Victoria 2 v. Otage 14
Nell Buchanan played excellently throughout the tourney and thoroughly deserved his position at right half in the N.Z.U. team which played Canterbury on Saturday.
In the first game Frank Walker, full back, sustained an injury to his upper lip necessitating several stitches and was unable to play in further matches in view of the possibility of further damage.
Stan Braithwaite suffered concussion in the third match, and is still an inmate of the Christchurch hospital.
Further remarks as to individual games and players are unnecessary, for the team, both individually and collectively, did its best, and Victoria was not disgraced.
To use a cliche—as a summary—a good time was had by all.
We have been reading a number of copies of the Consumers' Union Reports, published in America in the interests of consumers, and available to members of the non-profit organisation which publishes it.
Each issue deals with about eight different foods and commodities on sale in America. After a preliminary statement of the general position, a list of "Best Buys" is given, then a list headed "Also Acceptable." and finally a list headed "Not Acceptable." Needless to say, the third list, is the largest. Commodities such as vacuum cleaners, tomato juice, soups, automobiles, sunburn preventives, shoes, whiskies, dentifrices, and canned foods are exhaustively discussed, and the place of particular, brands in one of the three lists is settled after thorough scientific investigation. Reasons are always given for the inclusion of foods and commodities in the third list.
We noted with interest in the few issues we read—
Seven patent medicines on sale in New Zealand art included in a New York "Black List" as containing drugs injurious to health.Only one toothpaste sold in New Zealand is on the "Also Acceptable" list (though of course there are many brands made and sold in New Zealand alone), and five well-known brands are "Not Acceptable."Four Scotch Whiskies on sale in New Zealand are rated "Not Acceptable" on the basis or both quality and price.That nose — drops, sold for the prevention of colds, have been proved to cause pneumonia when used by young children.A brand of soap extensively advertised in New Zealand is "Not Acceptable."That aspirin preparations, though reducing the fever and relieving headaches which accompany colds, have not the slightest effect in curing codls. The cause of colds is still unknown.
And so it goes on, pages and pages describing foods, etc.. which are consumed in enormous quantities in New Zealand, and which are either sold at far too high a price or are of definitely inferior quality.
Why can there not
The size of our population would necessities such a service being run by the State but pamphlets could be issued periodically and distributed regularly to every household in New Zealand.
Feeling that its subjects have recently been too controversial, the Debating Club held a sweetness and light session on Friday, when a series of capable speakers wondered whether the top most perch is really the slitheriest. Despite the fact that there were a good many amusing moments, one couldn't help feeling at the conclusion that the evening had been wasted. Even though King! Tahiwi did return to lead the affirmative—a rather blase Kingi, by the way—and, after a dull opening, struck form with all his old brilliance and verve, he couldn't do much with that material.
The arguments didn't matter particularly either way, but Mr. Edgley, whose past flapped round a bit, was placed first by Mr. Powles on account of his logic. Though he did get a bit tangled in his theology—as did Mr. Simpson in his metaphysics and Mr. Foley in his quotations (hi, there, Abe!). Placed second equal with Mr. Tahiwi was Mr. Braybrooke, whose platform manner is easier than of old, while his matter is as lucidly presented. Marie Best spoke very pleasantly. Mr. Ongley very irrelevantly, and we enjoyed Mr. McWilliams' speech, as Mr. McWilliams obviously did himself.
For the benefit of posterity it may be recorded that the motion was carried by a large majority, and that, considering the smallish audience, the supper wasn't all it might have been.
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