HEALTH OF CHILDREN

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1931, Page 7

HEALTH OF CHILDREN

COLD BATHS ADVOCATED. DEFECTIVE HYGIENE. “I want to dispell from the minds of the public altogether the idea that New Zealand children suffer appreciably from rickets compared with the rest of the civilised world,” said Sir Truby King in an interview in Christchurch. “But they are /suffering in nutrition—in common with the rest of the cvilised world—from the effects of defective hygiene, including. insufficient outing and exercise during the pre-school and school age. “Every normal child should be taught to take, and actually like, a cold bath, Shower or sponge. If people say they cannot stand cold baths then they can hardly be in really perfect health. Adjacent to every school there should be a swimming bath, and every simple facility necessary to ensure the health of the children. “There is difficulty in the matter of the financial aid that can be given by tho Government to various humanitarian societies and institutions —such as the hospitals; but fortunately the successive Governments of New Zealand for nearly 20 years have both realised and recognised that tho Plunket Society s work is really a national matter. I feel sure that, whatever Government is in power, the Plunket Society will always receive its necessary subsidies. The difficulties of the society are also due to the fact that there is special need for its aid in limes of adversity such as the present. “The Plunket Society cannot do more for tho pre-School child until the Government provides the funds to enable it to deal with the situation. Members of Parliament should realise that it is a matter of tremendous importance. The Government shotild make adequate financial provision for safeguarding children throughout the pre-school age; and if this is done it can rely on the Plunket Society to co-operate through its nurses. The society would like to work in closer co-operation with the Health Department and tho Education Department; they should not; bo in water-tight compartments. Educated public opinion is wanted.”