SAVING THE CHILDREN.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2779, 22 October 1923, Page 5

SAVING THE CHILDREN.

CONSUMPTIVE PARENTS.

OPEN-AIR HOME ON CASHMERE HILLS.

20 ALREADY INSTALLED.

[Per Press Association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night.

For many years the New Zealand rate of mortality from tuberculosis has been going steadily down, as the public has come to understand the disease and the b?st means of avoiding it. A further stage In the campaign against T .13. has been reached by tho opening of an open-air home on the Cashmere Hills for children threatened with the disease.

The official opening ceremony was performed this afternoon by ‘Mr. H. J. Otley, chairman of the North Canterbury' Hospital Board. Children wera first received into the home this week, and more than 20 of them arc in residence already. It seems likely that the home will have to be enlarged before long. What the home is intended to do was explained very well by Dr, G. J. Blackmore, superintendent of the board’s tuberculosis institutions, who said that in most cases, consumption, which shows itself in adult life; is duo to an infection received in childhood. No real progress would be made in the campaign against tuberculosis until efforts were, directed to prevent this infection in childhood, oh to overcome it 'befor* it had dom» harm. The fresh-air home was designed to deal with children who hart actually come in contact with the disease. There are at the present time In the sanatorium at the Coronation Hospital 42 parents, Who have 70 children under 14 years of age. For the most part, these Children arc having nothing done for them to preven* them from developing the disease from which their' parents are suffering, These' figures relate only to the Children of parents who are actually under treatment, and take, no account of thq hundreds of children whose parents have been treated in past years. ■ (-" "