HEALTH AND HEREDITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1493, 16 July 1912, Page 6

HEALTH AND HEREDITY.

——$ . THE RISING . GENERATION. The first ,'of tho semes of lectures by Dr. Triiby King, on the subject of "Health and Heredity," or "How to Promote the Fitness'of the Easing General ion"—arranged under the auspices of the Public Health Department—was given in the Parish Hall, Lower Hutr, yesterday, before a, good audience of both sexes. The lecturer was introduced bv Professor Von ZcdUtz. The idea of the Department, explained Dr. Kin-,', is to try to afford all mothers throughout the Dominion, even in districts where the services of a resident nurse cannot be obtained, the opportunity of receiving from time to time safe and reliable advice, instruction, and help by means of specially trained nurses, who'would give demonstrations visit hnmev and travel from one township or district to another, •the. nurse heing supported by ■funds collected throughout the district benefited, and supplemented by Government assistance. Local committees would be organised in cohiifction with this work, added Dr. King. The lecturer then proceeded to discuss the leading facts of hereditv in their practical bearings, and the law's and guiding principles affecting in a practical way the rearing of healthv offspring. _ . ' Referring to certain remarks.made by tile lecturer, at the Education Commission, a member of the audience asked, apropos of Dr. King's contention that young children spent too much of their time in school, .whether he did not think that children in many cases wouni be better off in school than playing about the streets. Dr. King replied that he fully appreciated the difficult*- that existed in certain cases, but still the fact remained that young children grew aim developed better when not kept long at school, and lie felt convinced that morning attendance at. school was enough fqjj, ohildrim up to nine years of age. The schools were already overcrowded, and. it was not right to regard them merely as institutions created for the convenience of mothers—piooes where mothers oould. get their children cared for, out of the way, and in safe hands, for so many hours a day. No doubt the position would be, much belter if good out-of-door shelters were provided, enabling lessons to be siven outside the school, On i'fe motion of- Mr. RoM. Lee (chairman of the Education Board), Hie lecturer was accorded a hearty vote of thanks Dr." King' will give a lantern lecture at Petone this evening.