TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 57, 4 September 1926, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Some months ago a suggestion was made by Sir Francis Bell that the children of city schools should be encouraged to take an interest in trees and forestry by haying allotted, to them areas of the Town Belt to plant and maintain. So far as we Jure aware, nothing has been done here to' give effect to this excellent proposal. Christchurch, however, hag adopted a somewhat similar proposal, which is being supported by the Education Board. It is proposed that each city school should plant two acres each year with a view to the school funds benefiting later from the returns from the timber. The young trees are to be raised from seed in the school gardens and transferred when old enough ..to the school blocks on a largo reserve near the sea coast. The advantages of such a scheme are manifolfu .In the first place, the children hare a demonstration of the practical sida' of forestry, and are led to take an interest in this important work. Further, idle land is beautified and put to some use, with the prospect of an ultimate valuable return. In Wellington we have the land which could be planted with considerable advantage. At present much of it grows nothing but gorse and noxious weeds, which have to be cleared from time to time at a charge which would more than meet the cost of establishing a payable timber growth.

Doubts appear to have arisen as to tlm fate of the Agricultural College. It is reported that difficulties are being mot in the passage of the necessary legislation, and it is even feared that opposition so late in the session may force the postponement of the Bill. Such a postponement, we are sure, would be against the wishes of the majority of members, and a great disappointment to the people who have worked for the establishment of the College.. The Government policy has been decided only after exhaustive investigation and consideration of all relevant issues. It would be most regrettable if anything were now to hinder the prosecution of that policy.

To guard against this it is necessary that the supporters of the College should let it be known that they desire immediate action. If the Prime Minister has the active support of members his task in surmounting the obstacles that remain will be lightened. •

There is much sound common-sense in the rule of medical etiquette which forbids advertisement; but like all good things ono may have too much of it. It does appear that in the latest encounter with Sir Arbuthnot Lane the British Medical Association has defeated its own purpose. The surgeon's photograph was printed on the back of some tea-Bhop menu cards, with an article written by him upon diet for athletes. Seemingly the tea-shop proprietors did this for their own benefit, not with a view to advertising the surgeon. They aimed rather at suggesting to their customers that, if they eat the food supplied to them in these toashops, they would have no" cause for further acquaintance with Sir Arbuthnot Lane or any member of his profession. One cannot imagine any other purpose. "Dine at our shops and the doctor will save you" would possibly advertise the doctor; but it would not extend the catering business. But the British Medical Association has objected and the photographs have been covered, with the consequence that customers, naturally curious, have wanted to know why. In these, days of great publicity concerning health and all other topics there appears to be need for revising the interpretation of the B.M.A.'s good rule. Preventive medicine needs publicity, and in no department is this publicity more needed than in regard to diet. The people need instruction concerning food, but they will not accept such instruction without knowing the authority behind it. It would probably be to the advantage of the community if all public caterers would print sound dietary advice upon their menus. But probably most of the I caterers are glad that the B.M.A. is disposed to stop such trade-destroying tactics at the start.

Business men lunching at the Savoy one would not pick as a company likely to produce champions in athletics; but Sir Charles Higham has been taking such a company to task because England is being outstripped in athletic prowess. He holds that England has tho talent (though not necessarily at the Savoy), but fails to develop it. He favours the systematic development practised in America. No doubt he is right in his assignment of reasons for England's failure; yet there is something to be said on the other side. England for many years has kept amateur and professional sport apart, and not mainly for snobbish reasons; It is realised that the competitor who makes sport his business has a distinct advantage (other things being equal) over the man who makes it hig recreation. But if the amateur is to give his whole time to intensive preparation he really takes the same gronnd as the professional. It is certainly not in the best interests of widespread sport that this intensive „ preparation should be encouraged to the exclusion of all other occupations. !The true sporting nation should work as well as play.England may b.e playing second fiddle to other nations, but it is better to have an orchestra of many performers than one or two star artist* in the limelight.