THE PHYSICALLY UNFIT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 78, 27 December 1918, Page 3

THE PHYSICALLY UNFIT

WOMEN'S RESPONSIBILITY.

(By "Vox."}

Everyone is very much exercised in mind just now over the question of physical fitness in general and the sad-, dening number of physically unfit amongst, our yoring men of .military ago in particular. It is a particularly interesting study' for, women, for, after all, coming down to bedrock, the women have most to answer for in the matter. And this not only because -they and thoy alone •have the' entire care of the very young of both sexes, but because ' ever since many of- the young men -were - bom, women in New Zealand have had the franchise—that is, they have been a voting power. "Surely no 6tudy can be more deeply interesting to women than the health, physical, mental, and moral, of the community; but, setting aside the valuable work of a few .societies, what interest have women in general taken in these matters? Women have worked— none harder—in elections -for men, but the bogy'of party politics seems.'to. frighten them from any concerted action where they could make their voting .power really count. Even tlio tragic widows ond orphans of the epidemic are used as a flail to belabour political opponents. If this were not so any movement to improve the condition of all widows and orphans should have tlw I solid support of every woman in tho community. Look for ono moment at the unequal treatment of women in respect to pensions. A teacher or' Govern meni; servant in any capacity pays a sniß.il portion of her earnings into a superannuation fund which is most handsomely supplemented by the Government. At a comparatively early ago she retires with a comfortable competence. This is her right, and no questions regarding lier' savings come into it. Now take the case of the girl who marries and brings up a family. She, if her husband dies, is allotted a much smaller pension, which is still more reduced if her' husband should have insured his life. There'is no comparison in the Government's treatment of these women, and yet they and all the world know that .the woman who brings up hule and hearty children is doing the nation's highest work. If this widowed mother must work to supplement an inadequate pension how can she do justice to 'her children? It is evident at once that here is a matter bearing directly upon this great question of efficiency. "Keep the cradles full.!" cry tho country's rulers. By all means, if you can keep the occupants of tho cradles sound enough to be a source of strength to tiie country that owns them. Quantity is less than nothing if quality bo lacking. Tho whirlwind reaped to-day is the wind sown hundreds of years ago. We have hundreds of societies for saving tho lives of the physically, mentally, and morally unfit, and none to'prevent them propagate their kind. The only way, then, is to i devise a means of reaching their kind while they are still teachable.