HEALTH IN N.Z.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20060, 5 October 1939, Page 16

HEALTH IN N.Z.

IMPORTANT ASPECT ATTENTION TO THE SOIL THE INFLUENCE OF FOODS HON. W. E. PARRY’S VIEWS "I firmly believe that scientific attention to the soil from which our food comes is to-day not only important to the physical welfare of the people but imperative, if not fundamental to the continuity of the human race,” said the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, when speaking at a display of physical exercises and games by students of the Auckland Teachers’’ Training College in the college grounds. The Minister recalled that when asking Parliament to accept the Physical Welfare and Recreation Bill lie said that the real basis of physical instruction was not in the school, in the pre-natal stage or even in the food we ate, but in the soil in which our food was grown. He was convinced that unless the combined mineral content of our food was capable of producing 100 per cent healthy vegetable and animal life, then such food would fail to supply the mineral content natessau'y to establish Ithe foundation for a fit and healthy race. Purity of Food After having secured the production of healthy food, it became a question of applying immediate attention to a healthy preparation of the food, the Minister added. To-day, unfortunately, profit being the motive in most , business isphercs, good and wholesome food was ruined through adulteration. “The results of recent examinations of young men who volunteered for military service give point to these opinions,” said the Minister. In those examinations over 40 per cent of the recruits were temporarily unfit j through defective teeth. That wa.s not- j withstanding the school dental clinic j system, which carefully and skilfully i applied itself to defects which un-[ doubtedl.v arose from the food eaten. Wider Investigation “The position is that we create the j disease through our neglect of the fundamental principles of health and fitness, and then set up a skilful and elaborate organisation to remedy c-r ; -ure what we ourselves have created,”, he added.- “Our plans for public health, education and scientific research must embrace soils and vegeeble and animal growth. All phases of these investigations must be brought into the closest co-operation in order that tiie health and wellbeing of our people shall be the foundation of our future policy.”