HEALTH IMPROVEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 48, 25 August 1923, Page 11

HEALTH IMPROVEMENT

. 10 THE EDITOR. . ," •Sir, —Indirectly, through the columns of the world's Press—the newspapers i of everywhere—an appeal has been made to us to play our part in an affair that is daily becoming of .more acute, importance I in^ dealing with. This'disease-ridden earth is in a 1 sorry state," though.--to tho "man in the street" it appears-'healthy enough. When; however, such;, men as the Hon. WV H. : Triggs bring to our, notice the uppalling state of thejiiealth of J the community, on.c can under-, stand what • a "terrible heritage we are: saving for posterity; and .in. passing on' any handicap of.suoh aina'tux'e we:'are J disregarding: one-, of; our moral obligations, y.m : addition 'to ■contributing; to'the downfall of thetace: -In. tHehatids of the people of New Zealand lies the: future of New Zealand. To no one else.: can future generations lay blame for their poor mentality, puny physique, and ancient and twentieth" dehtury disease but ourselves. Though .the Health authorities of the world are. anxious enough to avail themselves of every opportunity to improve the health of humanity, there is a decided lack of co-operation on the part ofjie very humanity who are receiving the benefits—nor will, that humanity stop to realise in-the smallest degree the crime they are committing in'Signoring the lesson taught' by the incessant drain upon their incomes to provide for our hospital. ■ -1. -.-.:."•.■ The appeal under, notice at the moment is ■'■ that on behalf of the Spahlinger tuberculosis researches. Now, Sir, in the past our successive Mayors and generoushearted ladies in all' walks'' of life have been prominent in the work of relieving distress, of providing for the immediate wants of poverty by organising: funds and collecting days;vand We are.sincerely ,

indebtod io them for fcheir labours of nwrcy. Is it not possible for them to oarry their work, even further, and help to provide a laeting beneßt on posterity? I would suggest that a fund be created tor the purpose of helping to provide the necessary money to that wonderful Swiss. Haxt -Spahlmger, to ,complete hiz work. Wellington would shut the fund. Yourself and your contemporaries, in Keeping with your traditions, would give Prominence in your columns to the idea, ihe ladiee would come forward to jr.ake it a success by collecting and organising bazaars, entertainments, etc. And the rest of the world would, I feel confident, follow the lead of New Zealand-as it has often done in the past. Perhaps-his Worship , the Mayor could be persuaded to make a statement on the matter; or he might even suggest a better alternative to procure the same result, i.e. the necessary money. Whatever .is done, everyone can. Keep this in their minds as a spur to their actions, that unless help is forthcoming what has been competently reported upon as a cure for tuberculosis is going to be lost to the world for a period of years. We are all liable to the dreaded disease, and because of that, arid our sympathy for the. hundreds who are dyin"- all over the world, we should put our hands into our purses to help anyone who can offer a oure. We are told that Spahlinger has spent his fortune of £30,000 arid is m debt to the extent 'of £60 000 in experimenting in research work If that is true, then I think, Sir, that it ia good onough for /each one of us to give a few 1 shillings to complete the work —I ani etc. ' :'

„. . W. F. G. BLACKISTON. 23rd August.