The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1929 THE FIGHT AGAINST T.B.

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 843, 11 December 1929, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1929 THE FIGHT AGAINST T.B.

IF a penny “charity stamp” were affixed to all the letters, post- * cards and parcels that are posted in this country throughout a year, the sum of one million pounds sterling would be raised easily for fighting the Dominion’s “T. 8.” scourge. Since that method of raising money all the time even for a great cause would become as irksome to an overtaxed people as tuberculosis is continuously to not less than five thousand sufferers from the insidious disease, the Government has refrained from imposing a compulsory tax for an appealing purpose, ft has been content in wisdom to rely on a voluntaiy practice of the goodwill and kindness of the people, and has invited them to buy without stint an issue of charity stamps or seals, at twopence each, half of the cost to be devoted to the prevention of a scourge. This special issue of stamps .was made available today, and it is to be hoped that the great volume of postal business which marks the Yuletide season in this country will bear generous evidence of the people’s thoughtfulness for others in the widespread exchange of greetings and ready gifts. Every person who enjoys good health and is otherwise free of misery these days is exercising a lively anticipation of joyous holidays during the merry midsummer season in this pleasant land. Thousands of prospective excursionists and seaside picnickers will not hesitate to spend money freely on pleasure, and will spend it in the wise belief that such expenditure will be beneficial in every way to themselves. In addition there will be much indulgence of happy extravagance. In noting the approach of these pleasures and the spirit of happiness behind the desire for joy, there need not be raised any question of selfishness. Indeed, selfishness always takes care of itself in any circumstances and no talk would hinder its practice. But something ought to be said about the higher pleasure of unselfishness. Several thousands of T.B. patients will not be able to enjoy the Christmastide which, in its true significance means so much to Christian nations. And many children already stricken with tuberculosis would be assisted substantially toward recovery if there were sufficient money available for providing ideal curative homes for them and their special needs. Those who are fit and well and also able to secure all the alluring advantages of the approaching holiday season might well remember the victims of T.B. and far too many potential sufferers for whom the Government has initiated a postal crusade. A twopenny stamp on each letter and postcard throughout the season of goodwill will enable each healthy individual to help others less fortunate in physical condition. And by so helping each user of a charity stamp for the essential campaign will help himself in a spiritual way. The country as a whole would be all the better for such individual help. The appreciable fact that the mortality from all forms of tuberculosis in this country has been reduced during the past quarter of a century by about 50 per cent, does not diminish the need of intensifying the campaign against the disease. It provides all the greater reason for extending effective measures for prevention and cure. There are close on 2,500 sufferers from T.B. in eight sanatoria for adequate treatment of the disease, and the death-rate still exceeds 650 a year. Throughout the Dominion there is not yet sufficient accommodation for patients who require expert and efficient attention. Auckland and Wellington—the two main centres of population—lamentably lag behind other districts, and are unpardonably far behind Canterbury and Otago. Hitherto, the crusade against T.B. has been sectional, not national, and thousands of victims suffer lack of first-class treatment.. The political ideal in this country is that hospital provision should be provided for the treatment of all diseases, but, in practice, idealism is far from perfection. Hence the necessity for the Government’s appeal to all the people to help fight a chronic menace by the simple process of stamping letters with a special charity stamp. Millions of letters during the holiday season will express goodwill in their contents. Why not make them carry goodwill on their stamps"