The Hawera Star SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1924. HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 October 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1924. HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.

Ucliverefl every evening by 5 rrclocS tn Hawera, Alanaia, Normanby. Okaiawu, El than,, Mangatoki. Kaponga. Awatumi, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurley ville. ■Paieu, Waver ley, ilokoia, Wkakamara, Ohangai, Mereniere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

A toast often honoured by British people is that of health and happiness. The two conditions are linked together because the one is largely dependent on the other. The person who is in poor health, though he may possess a strong will and refuse to let his malady make him depressed, labours under a great handicap, and at times it is practically impossible for him to be happy. We suppose that everyone realises that the greatest blessing in life is good health, but it is true to say that a very large percentage of people are more careless with regard to their health than in anything else. When the Avar broke out in 1914, there Avas a remarkable response throughout the Empire to the call for service, but Avhen the men presented themselves for medical examination it Avas found that an astonishingly large number Avere not able to come up to the standard of fitness required. Many of those rejected Avere not suffering from defects that avoulcl handicap them in civilian life, but even Avhen all allowance Avas made for Avhat might be termed minor maladies or imperfections, it was found that there still remained a great many who-had in youth made havoc of their health, and it was plain that conditions existed in all parts of the Empire which Avere a terrible blot upon the nation. The searchlight w r as turned on and it revealed the fact that the position Avas much worse than people had thought. Medical science was able to effect improvement in the health of some of the people who were victims of diseases due to their wrong living, and in cities and large toAvns there was a long overdue cleaning up, but avc fear that., in spite of the sad state and the unpalatable facts which were disclosed during the years of war, the position is still very unsatisfactory. Our .cable ne.Avs this week gave an indication of the shocking conditions existing in Montreal and of the difficulties confronting those who are doing their best to clean up the city. Unfortunately, immorality and vice are found in all parts of the Empire. Only a few weeks ago disgusting scenes Avere witnessed in Sydney, indicating that there is serious moral laxity in that, city. But what must be the real moral state of many cities? Doctors, police and those people whose work is such that they know what is going on find that there is ample cause for the nation to be alarmed as to the future unless some means is found of stamping out. the awful trouble which is claiming enormous numbers of vicitims each year. If venereal diseases affected only tlios who contracted them through their own misdeeds the outlook would be bad enough, but when it is remembered that these diseases can be and often are communicated to the children by parents who transgress, it should make everyone realise how dangerous to the nation are conditions such as exist in a great many towns and cities throughout the Empire. The subject, is one that many AA'ell-meaning people foolishly place among the things' unmentionable; but the facts are such that unless a very determined campaign is undertaken serious damage tr the nation Avill continue. Rome time ago a commission enquired into \ T enerenl disease in Noav Zealand, and the report made very sad reading indeed, bul little effect! a* e progress toAvnrds overcoming the eA’il has been made. Proper medical treatment of those afflicted is of course, very necessary, but the prob lem, it seemg to us, is to break througl the general apathy of the people as a Avhole, and to' take definite steps tr ■prevent the spreading and passing on to future generations of the disease which does such enormous damage, to body and mind, and AA-liich robs life of happiness. Parents oaa’g a \ ? ery important duty to their children to give them proper instruction and to exercise sucl control and influence OA r er them that they Avill groAv up pure in mind and body, and in a thoroughly fit state 'tr Lake their places in life, free from taint and able to enjoy that invaluable peace and happiness which are so dependent- upon good health.