POINTS OF VIEW

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3912, 11 June 1937, Page 3

POINTS OF VIEW

BENEFIT OF EXERCISE. Sir, —Few if any who have experienced the beneficial effects of regular daily exercise will be disposed to dispute the case for physical culture as outlined in your _ recent article on “Health First.” It is common knowledge to physical culture devotees that, failing adequate exercise, the muscles soon become flaccid, the blood stream impure with toxins, and the body deteriorated, a general sluggishness and lassitude having been made inevitable in consequence of neglect of one of Nature’s most vital laws—that life is movement. Particularly is this the case with men who, having passed their prime, no longer feel the urge for exercise, and consequently decline, excusing themselves on the ground that “ they are getting old.”Eugen Sandow used to say: “ With careful training the bodily strength ought to increase steadily until the forty-fifth year is reached.” The physical education of all, whether young or old, should not be neglected. It is said that a poor physical body may hamper even a great mind, and it follows that perfect fitness must exercise a tonic effect on the brain. Mind and muscle are to some extent inter-dependent.—l am, 'etc., W. H. HAWKINS. WORLD RECOVERY. Sir, —It is encouraging to read authoritative reports from the International Labour Office of the League of Nations indicating an improvement from ail over all the world, showing that the economic blizzard at last is blowing itself out. I find that in every country represented in the League there has been a remarkable decrease of unemployment within the last few months. In Belgium, Great Britain, and the Netherlands the drop has been most satisfactory. In France where unemployment was beginning to show an alarming increase six months ago, and was stationary three months ago, there has now been a fairly substantial increase. The increase in employment is likely to have a favourable effect on the purchase of foodstuffs, and that in turn will help employment. This old world seems to be turning the corner, and if more national co-operation is gained I think the year, as was predicted last January, might mark the beginning of an era of prosperity, still a long way off, but gradually emerging. It takes a long time to get really well after a bad attack of illness, but the world seems to be well into the convalescence period.—l am, sir, etc., W.C.M.