For the health of our children

Group at the golden wedding of Mr and Mrs Alexander Jenkins, Timpany’s Siding, Southland. Inset...
Group at the golden wedding of Mr and Mrs Alexander Jenkins, Timpany’s Siding, Southland. Inset on left: Messrs W. and H. Jenkins. Inset on right: Mrs E. Maxted. Back row (from left): Mrs J. B. Senior (seated), Mrs C. Maxted, Mrs D. Saunders, Messrs J. Jenkins and A. Jenkins, Mrs T. Dysart, Mrs D. Moor and Mrs J. Buchanan (seated). Front row: Mrs C. Le Conteur, Mrs A. Jenkins, Mrs S. Wilson, Mr A. Jenkins (sen) and Mrs T. Miller. Mr and Mrs A. Jenkins were married on July 4, 1866 at Warrnambool
The importance of conserving and preserving the health of the children of the dominion is one of the lessons that the war has impressed upon the Government. 

The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education) briefly outlined the steps being taken by the Education Department in co-operation with the Public Health Department, to make provision for ensuring the welfare of the pupils at the public schools.

Mr Hanan is giving attention to the special schools, to deal with boys and girls of feeble intellect by means of specialised treatment.

He wishes to ascertain definitely the number of feeble-minded children in the dominion that have to be provided for, in order to make the best selection possible in connection with the accommodation that soon will be available at the special schools at Richmond, Nelson (where girls are kept), and Otekaike (where boys are accommodated).

To do this he will issue a circular to magistrates, local bodies, education boards, police officers, medical men, ministers of religion, truant officers, and school teachers asking for the information.

There are boys and girls, Mr Hanan explained, who are not idiotic or imbecile, and not merely backward, and who cannot benefit by the ordinary school work, but who are capable of receiving much benefit from instruction in special schools.

It was that class which he intended to deal with just now.

The troopship Tofua arrived at Port Chalmers at 7 o’clock on Saturday morning with 19 wounded and invalided soldiers on board.

Her arrival was invested with rather more interest than usual by reason of the fact she is the first vessel to return to New Zealand after having proceeded the whole way to England in order to disembark her troops.

The monotony of the journey was very pleasantly broken by the splendid manner in which the men were entertained at the various ports of call.

The Tofua remained in England only six days before leaving on the homeward run, which occupied 44 days, and was marked by no incident of moment. 

On arrival at the wharf the vessel was met by Captain Fraser, Captain Fleming, Lieutenant Dobson, and Lieutenant Hunter, of the local Headquarters Staff, and by several of the district representatives; the members of the Medical Board; while the records staff were also in attendance and speedily completed their respective tasks.

The men who were brought back were all patients of the Walton-on-Thames Hospital, some of them having previously been in hospital in France, and others in Egypt.

Major G. Lapraik, of Thames, was the medical officer on board, and he stated that the men had greatly benefited by the voyage, especially two who had originally been cot cases, but are now able to look after themselves.

London: Sir E. Shackleton has cabled from Chile stating that he is hastening the settlement of matters in connection with the Weddel Sea party in order to reach Australia at the soonest possible date.

It is pointed out here that the Australian and New Zealand Governments are generously repairing and refitting the Aurora, and it is thought inadvisable to despatch the Aurora before the middle of December at the earliest, judging by the experience of previous expeditions.

Sir E. Shackleton feels the keenest personal responsibility for the Ross Islanders, and it is recalled that in one of his earliest letters after his first return from Elephant Island he declared that he would not rest until he had done everything possible to save the marooned men of both parties. — ODT, 17.9.1916.

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