NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 748, 22 February 1910, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

; : In hia interesting inaugural address to the Medical- Association yesterday, Dβ. Pttbdy committed himself to some views'which we believe are not likely /to be considered orthodox by most medical men. Some of these involve questions: of general public policy; and must Bufr mit themselves to the criticism .v|. of' laymen. "A State medical service,", he told the Association, "would undoubtedly gradually be evolved." We hope ■ not, unless Dβ. Ptody means something other than , his statement implies. It will; be fortunate: if the conference; closes without some expression of opinion to prevent the Association from being qnoted some time in the 1 future as inclining towards the nationalisa,-, tion [■'of healing... Nor'.must' we 'miss dissenting from thc : suggestion that an anthropometric . te'st should ~ be, applied to ■. immigrants.-. Anthropometry 'is far from being ah exact science; and it is "reailv time that an end was made of the tendency to apply undigested theories, to prac-: tical'policy. ..These may for the present, however, be considered inxnor points. in : the;: address, the greater part of- which, it is not; unsatisfactory '.to..note, Dβ. : ;P.UBDT devoted to medicine'in its relation to children. His views on.the importance :of caring for,the-health of the children at school will meet with general 'approval, and /even those who cherish :a wholesome dislike of"fads".'•■in. education can:heartily agree that "it is really more useful.for a .child to learn to breathe correctly than to'learn the names .of-the capes; of New .'Zealand."- 'A great deal of: the time occupied by. the modern /'trim-, mirigs" on tie .old syllabus.' is; tiine : wasted, and would be. better. spent in play and physical exercises. Dβ. Pukdy is: of, opinion/ : also,: 'that children should.not commence school' life beforo the'; age .of seven years, basing his opinions on medical: considerations that square exactly with - common sense. It-is to. be' hoped that the Education Department, l if; it' ie' not ■ above from'the medical,-■ profession;■■ will take' note' of: Dβ. Ptody's suggestions 'for !:tHo safeguarding .-.•'of . .the children. , :; health. ; We .trust; that:,the :,confer>. ence will be/a 'successful one. / The. medical:: profession -.. is '■' "deservedly honoured' in..New'Zealand, -an.djit. will, best continueto merit.that honour, if-, it keeps always.in.mindj; , ;.as a: thjng to be guarded, against/ in the ■!interest of the public no . -less than ..of the physician;; a '■■'(■ genera] modern tendency'; to, break and tdev grade any institution that , happens to be old aswellaa honourable.!:

Quit; readers will . doubtless re col-.-■lect'the, incident that caused so much:, discussion • a :;few.. months' back.'.•■;Me.Uee,' it; will, be' remembered, had several times,:;.despite express'denials by: the Unionist leader,, declared.'that the old -age pensions would ,be endangered if the Liberals'were; defeated; .i - Me.' Bal- : foot at last dealt with. Me.' Übis: ina long speech of unexampled gravity'and ' rigour,, and Me. - Uee ■' retorted, in an equally emphatic and spirited fashion.'. The. substahco of' Mr. Ure's : speech was a; denial that he' had meant, anything more than that the Unionists .would not: be able to. continue;.the^pensions..;.'■Wβ are' sure that:'our, readers -will .be interested, in ..the: sequel of \ the dispute, : which was - : the subject, of. a ' good deal ,of comment ,in this,- country. The Postmaster-General was asked in November by;Me. Bowland Hunt, M.E., whether, in order to reassure the aged'poor, .he would arrange; to have notices posted' up ; wherever,' old age pensions were payable stating that old age pensions • were a' statutory < national obligation. Me. Buxton declined to issue, any such order. W,o : now learn■; by,.; mail,-. however, that : he-has ;issued : a .circular,.,ap-; proved by Minister,; di- ' recting that ; the' following .'notice shall x be '■ shown", to :any. person,..who, makes, inquiry as to' the duration; or extension, of the Act:—''The-' 'payment of the' pensions; .which \began through .the' -Post Office on.'the-Ist of January 1909, is under! the Old Age Pensions Act, and this Act will continue in force for all fcijne' unless it bai amended or repealed By any future Parliament. Under 1 the Old' Age- Pensions Act, therefore, every existing; pensioner who' /continues :to satisfy requirements of the Act, and every persons in whose case the conditions may hereafter be fulfilled, is entitled to; receive his or, her. pension as it; becomes due." ' Me. CJke wcs : specially .inconsed ! at. the charge .that, hevhad alarmed -"tho" pensioners;.- 'the -Gov.ernmont: now ■ finds- it necessary,- to allay- that alalrrn. The only-.com-,'ment , necessary, is the Spectator's;. "It only remains now for the Lord Advocate. ,to take. the credit for removing all anxietyj from/ the iiged poor." ..,.'■ ' - ■■'''."'. '~; ' ...'.' '..■■;{!'.■■ ■