Physical and Mental Welfare

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 15, 24 February 1939, Page 4

Physical and Mental Welfare

It is the duty of all responsible citizens of the state to keep themselves in a reasonable condition of physical fitness and good health, so that they maj be able to efficiently carry out their obligations to the community in which they live and to the state, of which they form apart. It is for the purpose of reminding the people of New Zealand of this duty, of forcibly impressing upon them the need for a higher standard of physical, mental, and, moral good health that the (Government has organised the Fitness Week campaign, now in progress. Not only this, but it is to mark the launching of a plan for the improvement of the health of the people to be brought about. In a country like this, possessing an attractive climate, natural and man-made facilities for recreation and health-giving sports, there should be no need for the governing authorities to take the initiative in such a movement. No propaganda should be necessary to induce the people to strive for a necessary higher measure of physical fitness, for already they should have taken advantage to the fuP of the wonderful health-giving and invigorating qualities available. On the contrary, unfortunately, there appears to have been a slipping back in the national health of the people, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that it has been stationary, while that of other nations has been making steady advancement. The present Government has certainly become so concerned over the position that it has decided upon a course of action in the hope that by following it out the health and well-being of the people will be lifted to a level comparative with those of other countries. When one remembers the way in which the public and private hospitals in the centres have increased within the last few years, out of all proportion to the growth of the population; that there are plans for still further extensions; when the evergrowing cost of maintenance is recalled, there is justification for alarm and for seeking some method whereby the burden of the care of the sick and ailing can be eased. Then, in addition, there is the loss to industry and production, caused' by the absence of such a large number of workers through sickness. Could this loss be reduced and the cost of curative institutions lessened by improving the standard of physical fitness and the general health of the people, then the cost of this will be more than worth-while; will, in fact, be an investment which will produce great dividends oi national well-being. Not aL sickness and disease can be prevented by improved physique, but by proper training of the body and of the mind, resistance to disease can be strengthened and a greater sense of physical well-being and comfort brought about. It has been said that the value of good health is appreciated only by those who have lost it. Whether this is so or not, it is undisputed that a sound mind and a sound body are the greatest assets which a man can possess and their cumulative effect is of inestimable value to the nation.

While individual and national welfare from a civic point of view are the immediate objectives of the present movement, that of the adequate defence of the country cannot, especially in these unsettled times, be lost sight of. During the Great War, rejections of recruits for service in the expeditionary force were very heavy, indicating that there was something lacking, some defect in the life of the people Should New Zealand be called upon to defend herself, every man able to carry arms will be called upon and the greater the standard of physical health and fitness, the greater will be the

defensive effort and the more effective the resistance. But an increased number of people playing some kind of sport is not what is sought; that in itself is desirable, but physical welfare embodies more than that. It envisages a body healthy and sound, able to resist the stresses and strains of modern life; a mind vigorous and alert, trained to control and to keep the body under control; to develop a personality trained in thought and action, with the ability to think and act for itself; a nation clear-eyed and clear-headed, looking the whole world in the face, calmly and unafraid, confident in the strength which comes from a sound mind in a sound body. To bring about such a desirable state of affairs, the co-opera-tion and effort of every man, woman, and child is required. It is a service which entails little self-sacrifice but which gives great returns to individuals and the nation. Results will not be seen this year or even next, but gradually, almost imperceptibly, an improvement in the physique and health of the people willbe brought about; the greater the effort made the greater the benefits that will be obtained.