TOPICS OF THE HOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18019, 18 February 1922, Page 4 (Supplement)

TOPICS OF THE HOUR.

BY VIVIEX. In spite of tho arguments of our southern friends to the contrary, \vc of the so-called " Winterlcss North'' are fond of asserting that in the matter of hot weather Auckland is not really half

'"as Uack as it is painted." And for the greater part of the summer, by means of a little ingenuity in keeping our houses cool, knd 'by judiciously enticing our various southern guests as much as possible into the garden or on to the harbour or the beach or the spots where the sea-breezes blow, wo win usually manage to persuade even the most critical and perversa of visitors that we are quite right. But alas, not in February! Nearly all the rest of the year wo can talk glibly enough about our pleasantly equable climate; but in February at leas't the humid, hot-house atmosphere, the languid, sultry days and still, hot nights speak more loudly than woids.

Even to Aucklanrirrs bred and born this time of the year is particularly trying and strangely enervating. In winter and spring and autumn we can be at least moderately energetic, keen, enthusiastic, ambitions, competitive. But in February and thereabouts we become mere lotuseaters, bereft of all ambition, all enthusiasm, all active interest, content to drift aimlessly on to wherever the tido may cany us, conscious of no definite desire except to dream away the languid days in unbroken peace. It is. perhaps, this quality in the atmosphere more than anything else which gives Auckland its semitropical character, and to some extent jus! tiis the opinion that it is too enervating, too liable to sap vitality and mercy and will-power ;o be really

Howsm'vpr that mav lie, Auckland housewives know that this is the time when they need all their ingenuity to keep this house pool and airy, and all thoir culinary skill to tempt the capricious Mmily appetite. Happily wo have, now for the most part learnt the wisdom of drawn blinds and wide open doors and windows; we are developing the habit of picnic lunches and outdoor meals in the garden or on the verandah; we are adopting the practice of doing all our reading and writing, our mending and sewing, under the shade of tiees or on an airy halcony: we are even cultivating a U.stc for sleeping in the open air. But wp have not yet learnt what foods are most suitable for human consumption in a semi tropical clinr.te, nor how to prepare meals which ire nourishing, and at the same time tempting, in hoi weather. As a general rule, we use meat unci various heating foods too freely, and fruit a::d vegetables too sparingly. On ihe C ntinent, particularly in France, the most tempting salads of every conceivab'e description form almost- the chief item 'ti fhe summer diet. In America again, ices and ice-puddings and fruits served in a variety of ways figure iar more largely on the menu than in New Zealand. ' Similarly in India and such countries white people have learnt the absolute necessity of making their diet conform to the "exigencies of the climate. In Auckland and New Zealand generally the matter is not so urgent; but there can bo no doubt that an intelligent study of food-values and bodily requirements in summer and an improvement in the nature and variety of the meals then served would do much to couutcract the ill-effects of the climate on .Auckland people.

Apropos of food, it is certainly not flattering to-our vanity to learn that in the opinion-of. Dr. Wilkin, director of school hygiene/ and- of-various other medical men whose views on fhe subject have been freelv expressed, we New Zealanders have "the worst teetii in the world;" that " the amount of preventable disease hero is. proportionately, probably greater than in any other country;" and that all this is the"direct result of our " appalling food habits," which also are " the worst in the world!" It is scarcely a record to he proud of! And yet anyone who takes the trouble to observe his fellow-creatures on a train journey, in street car or ferry boat, even in theatres and picture shows, must develop an uneasy suspicion that, however unpleasant this view of the situation may be, it is nevertheless true. The majority of the passengers on a journey in the Main Trunk, for example, seem absolutely incapable of existing without food for more than half-an-bour at a time. They come on board the train supplied with sweets and fruit, and even hampers of provisions; they make purchases from every food-vendor who passes through the train; they are present at all the regular meals; and at every likely station they make a dash for tea and sandwiches. Similarly the average child, or even baby, of to-day, whether in car or train, shop or street, has only to be fretful c grizzle for a few minutes to induce mamma to delve into a bag after the expected biscuit or bit of sticky chocolate. In places of amusement children and adults alike seem unable to enjoy anything without being fortified with something to eat. One can only conclude that as a race we are either very greedy or very stupid, or a little of both. At any rate we are paying for our folly in ruined digestions and wretchedly defective teeth.

An interesting account of the work done by the American Libraries Association in regard to children wan given recently in an English exchange. Almost every large public library nowadays makes some provision for childish readers, but it is said that the greatest centre of reading children in the world is to be found in New York City. It was in America that the system of story-telling was first inaugurated in conjunction with the book-lending library for children, and this delightful plan has now been adopted by many libraries in other countries as well. Moreover, the Libraries Association is carrying on a fine work of almost international value end importance by the establishment of libraries where foreign children of all types and all nations may read books in their own language and compare them with English or other versions. In this way children of different nationalities read and discuss the same books in different versions, compare words and phrases ano\ develop an amazing knowledge of, and interest in, other nations, customs and languages. Even the children's story-teller is frequently interrupted by some intelligent foreign boys or girls eager to have the correct spelling and meaning of a new word in order to look it up in their own dictionaries. All this searching after mutual knowledge, of interests and ideas on the part of embryo citizens must surely make for a better understanding, a wider sympathy, a bigger inception of the meaning of universal prntherhood in the frture.