THE PUBLIC HEALTH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 286, 22 August 1918, Page 6

THE PUBLIC HEALTH

Sir,— Facts and figures elucidated by the Defence Expenditure Commission show the need for vigilance on the part of tho taxpayers, who are entitled to I fair value for their money, in every de- , partmont of tho Public Service. The somewhat nowly established system of health inspection in our State schools is certainly a step iu the right direction. But one cannot help wondering why tho Government has not made it compulsory for parents to get unhealthy and neglected children at State schools properly atteiflled' to. The Government is now employing six qualified medical practitioners—and about a dozen qualified nnrse6, at a cost of approximately .£12,000 a year, in this new branch of the Departments of Health, and Education. No doubt all these good officers earn their salaries and travelling allowances, by faithfully carrying out their prescribed duties—visiting the Stato schools throughout the Dominion, examining the children's teeth and physical condition generally. The doctors and nurses report on their investigations to the Departments, and in due course tho parents of unhealthy and neglected children are recommended to get their offspring properly attended to forthwith. But tho Tcsult is very unsatisfactory because the recommendations of these Government officers are often ignored, and unhealthy and neglected children are allowed to continue to mingle with the other little ones. Surely it is high time that such a menace to the public health ■was more effectively tackled, so that the lives of our children may be adequately protected, and the taxpayers satisfied that they receive herein proper value for their money.—l am, etc., I

H. G. BEBRYMAN. Stanley Downs, Nelson.