ENVY OF THE WORLD

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21120, 22 March 1934, Page 10

ENVY OF THE WORLD

HEALTH OF NEW ZEALAND OIMNION OF NOTED DOCTOR There is a general view, en the pail of the rest of the world, that New Zealand is a very healthy country, and that it has the lowest infant mortality and death rate in the world, according to Dr. V. G. Reiser, of New York, who spent a few hours 111 Christchurch yesterday un his way south. Dr. Reiser, who is eastern director of the Rockefeller foundation, staled that the foundation was keenly interested in the ex-

celJent health conditions of the Dominion. and it was his aim to study the methods which had brought tla.ni about, with Ihe object of apPlying them to other parts of the world. For instance, he said, New Zealand had better water and consequently a better sewerage system than any cither country. That, of course, was a big factor in the health of the residents. ih' was delighted, he said, with the obvious care taken of the health of the children, and the open-air schools system was of distinct value. Addresses such as that given this wee!: by Sir Louis Burnett were helpful in community education. After discussing health matters with those concerned in the Dominion the doctor will leave by the Mariposa on her next trip t<> Australia, en route for Fiji, where the Government is also co-operatiiig with the Rockefeller Foundation.

Opportunities for licsearcli in pin suanee oi its policy to promote bet lit In ;ili!i. the foundation gave ii,r ii,in ive.in:-im-ndeu by jjovtrmneMjj i«»r study m ! orei gil countrus, said the doctor. Siveiai iNtw Zealand doctors hud J lad the upj;urtiiiuty ot i«Uidyiiig abroad muter such iclluwships. The jnstiuitio:i was taking special interest in the control oi yellow fever, which was a world menace, partieuJai (y since aeroplanes had become : ncn a popular mean.-; oi transport. An aeroplane nti.sdit carry the mo.;qu.nm nsnoiisiblo t».j* the disease el' a |, (i n r who ha.it contracted it. 1'! a 1 i • Mas mere prevalent en ! ! :: v, est eea.'i <a Allien, hut there wa- : a cieii ilanccr uf il spreading t i any othir earl el' the world r. I.i •••: the particular i:r: >-.-(.[!ntn was iiiiDui. .Australia had plenty el' . iteli 11i' i «111!t< ». but he was nut sure v. h' ; («•!• there wet e any in New 7.i. aland, and he intendi d to make eis juii'ii -s I h . Ih !•> ! 1, •■!,,, (.it si-ient el the li.tcrnali'-nai Eepro: v A.-sueiatioh, id:! he .-aid that the f1I;ht against ti.i, ilisa-i had become very well organised in the last. lew years, i lie lhiitsh Empire Anti-Leprosy Association was doing a great deal of work in all Hritrh Dominions. Lep-rn-v wa ; a world-wide (iisease. but tin. re v. as little <•! C. ni N< w Zealand. In e<.-H!H/; at ion v. ith the Hnii: h Association. American organisati, ns v.'eri' earrvnn. opt a wend* wide campaign, and th.e l-eague oi Nations was interesting itsel:. Lately it had instituted con're-: m Jira/.il i. 11- the s' ud vof t iie d n : ea-".

Control of Leprosy -'j nc control ol 111e lil.-L... c<.ia lit i:-. :iuv.' I11;n 1 nto look nane hopcl ul,'' said Dr. J!ci.-cr. ceritly *i new treat met it fur leprosy came into existence ami it looks very promkatn;. Dr. llyne, ol Make, has bri'll USU>|> Certain llvcS wilh p'eat : ui'ct . s. ])r Hoiser .-netil some time with ti u , .Medical oilice ol Health. Dr. T. Fli trher Telford. He Phtnket lootll.'. the Karitane P.aby Ilosnital, ant! the Public 110.-pital. He also spent some time with Dr. A. P., Pear.-en. bacteriologist at the hospital, and expressed approval uf file work he was doinj-;. Dunodin Dr. lie: . . expects to find _n:ore terial for his report on New /,rakiiid conditions by vi-its to the m dieal and hygiene schools ol Ota-o University.