THE RED CROSS CONFERENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 61

THE RED CROSS CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALAND HONOURED. (Fbom Oub Own Cobbespondent.) LONDON, April 8. Dr F. Truby King, C.M.G., is the only representative of the dominion present at tho Conference of Bed Cross Societies from Great Britain, America, France, Italy, and Japan, which is now being held in Cannes. Ho is one of the delegates appointed by the British Red Cross Society. The conference is a very important one, inasmuch as the members are discussing the programmes of activity which may employ Red Cross Societies during peace, and so keep the organisation intact and employed. In a -discussion on a proposed central health bureau to act as a connecting link between national Red Cross societies m their future health crusade throughout the world, Dr King said he was the only representative of British communities south of the Equator, and he made an earnest speech in support of the creation of a central Red Cross bureau to disseminate consistent and authoritative scientific knowlodgo bearing on health and fitness in a simple and practical way throughout tho whole community. He said emphatically that, as regarded the laws and practice of healthy living, there was much need for going to school on the part of the ignorant and well-to-do as on the part of the' so-called poor and ignorant. The need of knowledge was as great for one class as another, and the knowledge acquired by a mother who was capable, influential, and well off. spread by example and" fashion to all classes. Such mothers made the most effective teachers. _ The great need of the day was to interpret in an interesting and attractive way to tho whole community facte which had hitherto been only at the disposal of the expert. After all, -to use Huxley's words, science was mainly crystallised common sense, and tho essential oould be understood and made use of by all. He appealed especially for an active health campaign in the most advanced countries, ana that it should not be restricted to backward States or merely to tho blacker spots of any country. The first task of a world-wide health crusade was to concentrate on tho mother and tho child. There must be better provision for the teaching and enlightenment of mothers of all classes. H'e had, no doubt that Mr Davison's project would be as warmly received and prove as beneficent in the Southern Hemisphere as in the Old World and North America.