JOINT SESSIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 14

JOINT SESSIONS

[NATIVE EDUCATION EVENTS AT WEEK-END MANY TRIPS FOR TO-DAY Combined meetings occupied a number cif the 16 sections of the Australian and New Zealand Association lor the Advancement of Science on the third day of its congress at Auckland Lniversity College yesterday. One of the most popular sessions so far held took place in the morning, when the education, anthropology and geography sections met to consider the education of native races. A paper sent

from Australia bv the Pe\-. Dr. A. P

Kllvin, professor of anthropology at Sydney University, took a world-wide view of the problem as related to the clash, of cultures. The bearing of education on the future of the Maori was the subject of a paper contributed by Dr 1. L. G. Sutherland, tiie lately-ap-pointed professor of philosophy at Canterbury University and author of a recent book on Maori problems. It was read on Dr. Sutherland's behalf by Dr. C'. E. Beeby. So much interest was shown that it was decided to hold a further meeting next week for a general discussion. Conversazione at Museum The large combined meeting on mineral deficiencies in soils completed its second day, the papers all relating to technical details of the subject. "Pacific Exploration"' was the title of a session of the history and geography sections, and the papers were briefly introduced by Sir Douglas Mawson. The engineering and the architecture sections heard .and discussed three Auckland papers on subjects related to town-planning. Members of the congress were •the guests of the Auckland Institute and Museum at a conversazione at the War Memorial [Museum in the evening. Week-end Excursions A general harbour excursion has been arranged for to-day, but if the weather permits a number of other trips will bo made by different sections to tho Waitakere Ranges, Piha, Muriwai and other places near the city, while others will visit industrial establishments, tho It A broadcasting station, H.M.S. Achilles, and the telegraph and cable offices. Visiting engineers will be taken to 'see the cement works at Portland. The zoology section expects to make a launch trip in tho neighbourhood of JMotutapu and Waiheke in order to observe bird life.

The sessions of the congress will resume on Monday and end on Tuesday

afternoon

DENTAL DISEASE DOMINION'S HIGH RATE PERFECT HEALTH RARE "Although good medical and dental service is available throughout the Dominion the incidence of dental disease is the highest in the -world and the amount of ill-health and sickness in general is very great," said Dr. R. M. S. Taylor, in a paper to the medical science and health section. "It is, a faet that perfect health in this country is rarely seen, in spite of frequent statements to the contrary." While there were several contributing causes to the incidence of dental disease they all arose from' wrong habits of living and the principal causes were dietetic. Dental disease was frequently a sign of malnutrition. As the dental' condition became worse further signs of disease might be evident in other parts of the body. Removal of teeth would relieve these secondary conditions, but so long as the original wrong condition continued the individual could not enjoy perfect health. Adequate dental treatment involved correction of faulty habits as well as operative procedures, and this required the patient's genuine co-operation. In preventive dentistry and preventive medicine lay the only hope of national health.

I ECONOMIC SOCIETY n % BIENNIAL MEETING HELD - %. In accordance with its custom, the -Council of the Economic Society of ;fc|Australia and New Zealand took advantage of the holding of the Science Congress to hold its own biennial meeting. On Thursday evening, Mr. J. B. Brigden, director of the Queensland Bureau of Industry and Statistics, was elected ' president for the next two years. Mr. Brigden was professor of Economics at the University of Tasmania from 1925 to ,1929 and was director of-the Australian Overseas Transport Association before his present appointment. Jt was reported that the society had over ,700. members in its branches throughout Australia and New Zealand. The editor-in-chief of its" publication, The Economic Record, Professor D. B.'Copland, reported that it was in a very - sound position. n.nd that oil Jus recent trip to America and Europe ho found that it continued to enjoy a very high reputation abroad. HEALTH INSURANCE THE PHARMACIST'S PART Reasons why the pharmacist must play an important part in any eompre.honsive national health insurance, scheme were given by Mr. W. K. Honnselj, manager of the Auckland Friendly Societies' Dispensary, in a paper ' read to the pharmaceutical science section. Mr. Hounscll quoted from a high American authority the opinion that "a well-informed pharmacist is the best single individual to disenainate information about puhlic health." No national health scheme, he said, could function, unless it undertook to educate the public in matters of housing, working conditions, personal hygiene and correct diet. It should endeavour to attack disease by early domiciliary treatment in the family group by the general practitioner, resorting to specialist and other services only when necessary. Tt was - obvious that the pharmacist, by supplying medicines to tho patients of these general practitioners, must occupy a" prominent place in any.health scheme.

As the Department of Health for Scotland had pointed out, the use of drugs otherwise than under skilled direction did not as a ride constitute treatment. Since self-medication was widely practised in Australia and New Zeal a fid, it was urgently necessary, for both the education and wellhoing of the public, that the sale of all medicines should be confined to those specially trained to handle them.

As regards fhe education of the public, the question was: Is the pharmacist ready to accept the responsibility? It was the duty of pharmacists, Mr. Hounscll concluded, as professional men, to do their best to make sickness insurance successful in its ultimate .aim. ,