CHILD WELFARE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23351, 17 November 1937, Page 6

CHILD WELFARE

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, —It is essential for the welfare of the growing child that he or she should receive as much sunlight, fresh air, and outdoor exercise as possible. For several years all organisations that aim at fostering healthy recreation, and a resultant increase in the health of the community, have deplored the fact that far too many of our young men and women fall far short of class A in fitness. . So pressing is the problem that, in the near future, the Government intends to launch a national fitness campaign. If national fitness is essential for the industrial and productive efficiency of the community, the public has a right to ensure that no practices are adopted whereby that movement is impaired. What is the use of a national fitness campaign if children are to be encouraged to frequent theatres and remain indoors when they should be out of doors receiving the benefit of sunshine and fresh air? But this is exactly what is happening in Dunedin. A firm which has branches in every part of New Zealand, to advertise its goods holds a weekly party every Saturday morning in one of the theatres to which the children are enticed by messages previously sent over the air. I should like to know, Sir, why the Health Department or the school medical officer has not intervened to stop this nefarious practice by which the school children are exploited that the sales of a large and wealthy firm may be increased. Advertise, by all means, but leave the children alone.—l am, etc., Dugald McKlosh.