IMPORTANCE OF DIET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 3 June 1938, Page 14

IMPORTANCE OF DIET

EFFECT ON PEOPLE’S HEALTH GREATER ATTENTION NEEDED (Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON, June 2, The importance of overcoming faulty nutrition among the people of New Zealand was stressed by Sir James Elliott. chairman of the committee of the Wellington Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association, speaking at the annual meeting of the centre to-night when introducing a film dealing with nutrition in England and another showing the physical development among German youth. Sir James said that in 20 years the birth rate in the Dominion had decreased by 26 per cent, and the population had increased bv 36 per cent. Admissions to the public hospitals had increased by 126 per cent, and to the mental hospitals by 105 per cent. There was no more important question for those interested in the physical welfare of the people than nutrition, and it was becoming increasingly apparent that the diet of the people right from birth needed investigating. “ I am very pleased that the National Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation has taken up this important subject,” said Sir James. “ 1 hope that much good will come from their efforts.”