THE COMINION'S BEST ASSET.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3142, 6 November 1922, Page 2

THE COMINION'S BEST ASSET.

Apart from the humanitarian aspect, everyone must recognise that the na-tive-born population was the Dominion's best asset (said Dr Truby King at, Auckland the other evening). At least they would be if well looked after, and they were- well worth looking after if onlv from the pecuniary point of view. Thev were the future taxpayers. Indeed, all the national debts were handed over to the babies. Statesmen and statisticians agreed that the value to the State of young adults in early maturity averaged from (.'SOO to £IOO each. Assuming that 25,000 would survive out of the ,'{oo.ooo expected arrivals in the next ten years, the value of this "crop" to New Zealand would he between C 125.000.000 and £250,000,000 on the figures he had given. If neglected, large numbers of these beings would become a very tserious charge to the State. He placed great emphasis on the importance of the daily cold bath, especially for boys and girls, followed by active exercise, and the necessity for reform in the direction of avoiding the taking of foods between meals, especially sweets, and the adoption of simpler and more invigorating food, such as wholemeal bread, fresh fruit, and raw green vegetables.