ROAD TO HEALTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1937, Page 16

ROAD TO HEALTH

"HIKING" IN THE COUNTRY

If you're not feeling in tune with the season, take a quick, brisk walk, advises an overseas 'writer.'

For, indeed, walking works wonders. It soothes the nerves and brings new life to the body. If you suffer from sleeplessness—and I know no worse complaint?—make a point of stepping out for half an hour before you step into bed and you'll find you'll be sleeping the clock round after a day or so.

Again, if you're not as slim as you'd like to be an hour's walk every day will soon send those surplus pounds away. If you work in an office, get up early and set off on foot, and you'll find'you'll work better and feel better for the exercise. What's more, there'll, be no need for you to worry about diets any more.

If you're a housewife, do the same. Include a walk in your daily routine and don't feel that it's time wasted. Do your shopping in the next suburb— that!s one way of combining exercise and work!

Remember to wear the right clothes when you go walking. Shoes with sensible heels will help you to cover the miles. Leave the towns behind you and go for a day's "hiking" in the week-end. Set off in the early morning with a packet of sandwiches, a map in your rucksack, and an object in view. To reach a certain place by lunch-time, for instance—a quiet, country spot, far from the towns.

When you reach your destination, sit down and rest yourself. Cast all your worries aside. When you get home, change your clothes and your shoes and stockings at once. If your feet feel weary, rub them with olive oil or boracic powder, and you'll feel no ill effects the next day.

So make a resolution at once to step out this autumn. If you carry it out you'll feel healthy—and happy. For health ■ and happiness are first cousins.

did place for the pram, when the baby of the house was not able to be taken out. Mr. I»ie said that it seemed that every woman wanted something different, and he would be glad of a concensus of opinion in the matter. Mrs. White said that personally she was all for tasteful simplicity, and no fences or footpaths, as both were going out of date in larger communities. She also suggested that competitions should be instituted, among ■• the. tenants with prizes both for good suggestions and for the best and most improving tenants. LARGE WINDOWS URGED. Mrs.''Blake urged the' necessity of plenty-of possibilities for fresh air. and sunshine in the houses, large windows, so placed that, the inmates would not have.to stand up to look out of them. She -also mentioned the necessity for the provision of places for bicycles, and communal greens and play areas for the children. Mrs. J. C. Andersen gave a description of the housing she had noted in her recenl tour abroad, and explained how much was done in the way of beautiful little gardens, play areas, communal amusement parks, etc. She expressed her opinion urgently that not nearly enough people take the trouble to grow their own vegetables. Runner beans, etc., were so easy to grow, and yet how few people took that trouble. She thought that many might help themselves in this way more 'than they did, and hoped that the new Governmental .cottages would have every inch of ground made use of by the tenants. She thought that people need not cluster into the city areas for their amusements, but make their centres further out of town, where games and even picture halls would soon be possible for them. Mrs. Andersen gave an interesting account of the open-air plays which were so much enjoyed in Denmark and also in the summer in England. Now there was to be more leisure she hoped that the people, would give up more time to physical culture, as they were doing in other parts of the world, and that they would stay more about their homes and make them beautiful—not looking for purely city amusements. She urged also that vandalism by children should be strongly checked by parents, as -well as in the schools, and mentioned with regret the way beautiful trees and shrubs were knocked about by children in the Eastbourne district. The children could easily be brought up to love beauty. SINGLE WOMEN AND OLD COUPLES. Mrs. P. Fraser, in answer to a question, said that in Great Britain provision was made for single women and old couples in the housing schemes, and mentioned some in Glasgow, which she had visited, and which were let for 5s per week. This branch of work had been mentioned by Mr. Lee.

Mrs. J. Henderson spoke of her sincere wish that people in general would cultivate better civic manners, and gave instances of harm being done and expense incurred by people being .extremely careless and having unclean habits. Drains and pipes were choked, and there were few people she felt more sorry for than plumbers. This was all wrong, and she hoped that in the new housing people would be expected to take every care of the property which was given them through the Government and at the expense of the people generally. If houses were provided at the expense of the State it should be insisted on that there was some supervision and that every care should be taken of the houses. She touched on the question of the provision of smaller hospitals for ordinary illnesses, which could lessen expense and provide really better facilities. Mrs. Henderson closed with the suggestion of "repairing leases," and added that she hoped that most people would consider the necessity of taking every care of their houses before entering into the expense of motor-cars. The question of the; housing of Maoris was brought forward by Miss Tanner, who had recently been at Rotorua. She was of opinion that some of the people there were very poorly housed. It was explained that this matter was already being dealt with by the Government. It was agreed to forward the salient points from the. meeting to Mr. J. A. Lee.

Mrs. P. Fraser and Mrs. J. A. Lee were both cordially welcomed at the meeting by Mrs. Strong, and thanked for attending. MEETING OF GUILD COMMITTEE. Previous to the meeting the service guild committee met and the aims and objects of the paper "Woman Today"

work accomplished by the late Mrs. Roberts, of her work in the Children's Court,- ■ for Borstal inmates, and generally for 'the health and well-being of young people and children. She had been so well known and loved, and was always missed, such generous workers b.eing rare, and the memorial hall and dormitory were fitting tributes to her memory from her daughter, who knew well where her mother's interests, and work had been directed. Mrs. Fraser spoke also of the good service given by Mrs. Marshall Macdonald in some of the same directions,, and specially in the health camps. A tribute was also paid to', the officers of the Post and- Telegraph Department who had yoluritarilyJshouldered the work of coliectmg for the-camp*in the various districts. Mrs. Robert Kennedy gave cordial thanks to Mrs. Fraser for coming to unveil, the tablet, on behalf of Lady Ferguson and the committee. She mentioned the donation of £100 from the Dunedin. Savings' Bank trustees, which' had enabled the camp to be opened almost immediately, and also the fine help given by Mrs. Marshall Macdonald,, who had not only worked energetically herself, but had gathered round her a band of young women who came out each year for varying periods, and gave time and services free. The Government, the residents of the Waikouaiti district, and all helpers were thanked by Mrs. Kennedy. It had been decided to name the next dormitory the "Toomie Dormitory" after the president of the Racing Club, as he and the members had' taken so much interest in the camp and had helped substantially in its equipment. The camp is 'beautifully placed, open to the sunshine, sheltered from wind, near a safe beach for paddling and bathing, and plenty of play space. The action of Mrs.Whyte in giving the new wing was deeply appreciated.