THE TWO PRIMARY WANTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1921, Page 4

THE TWO PRIMARY WANTS.

HEALTH - AND HAPPINESS,

It is rigltt that the Welfare League should discuss the question of “ Health and Happiness,” as there is nothing more closely related to human welfate than a well sustained supply of these essentials. In the strife and turmoil of to-day but little attention is given to health. The doctor is visited, or visits us, when we have contracted some illness or disease. How seldom do we consult the doctor as to how we can maintain good health, and avoid the attacks which all know are very imminent. “Prevention is better than cure is glibly uttered but prevention is oul> possible by the cultivation of right habits cf living. Here is where our indolence, vanity and unreason trips us up; each is inclined to think that they tire the exception. Pay attention to your health. Oh! no, we do not mean worry about it. Unhealthy thinking about ourselves wont help any. Inc itnoti dual whose mind is troubled with every slightest indisposition of the body is ! not attending to health but merely hunting for symptoms of disease. ‘‘A healthy mind in a healthy body” is the ideal to kept' before us. It is a simple fact that the mind and hotly act and react on each other. The mind and body are not mere neighbours, they live in the same bouse and for the good of hot it each must sustain -and serve the other. To continence with man is an animal. That by neglect our manhood may become a very poor kind »l animal from the health standpoint was demonstrated l,v the great proportion of “medically unfits” discovered on the examination of our young men for war service. Recently Dr Trilby King in lecturing at a meeting on the subject of health preservation stressed the ]>oiiit that in te-

iranl to the voting the first tiling to ensure was the making of a healthy animal. That the foundation he found to be essential. It is it question whether, in our onthusiani for education, we do not mix too many “ologies” with our children's food and games, thereby mortgaging their healt,h stock tor the future. Sometimes it appears that our civilised idea of health is nothing high- j er than the negative side of disease. To savour the real thing in the way ol , physical welfare one must he close te j nature. To throw the flap of our tout ; on one side and step outside, filling our j lungs with 1 resit clear air and feeling ] the tingle of the early morning sharp- | ness which is followed by the coursing t of our warm blood, like a draught of ■ rich wine pouring through every vein : I such is when we know real health, j Those who have experienced the fulness j of it will tell you that they do not think | of their health but just enjoy it. Titus j is realised that health aim happiness are j very closely related. \\ lieu the Ameri- j can Drummer (commercial (traveller') goes out on the road, he sells to smih‘ | and smiles to sell, hut which comes first j he cannot tell. Such, also, is the eon- j iieetion between health and happiness. The health authorities say wo have a j lew death rate in New Zealand. Is it ! the ease that New Zealand has a high j health standard:-' On the average are j our people possessed ol immun- j ity from discuses than those of other j hi mis j* What is our stmulinj' ns re- I

guids frequency of attacks ot various j common maladies, the duration and in- , tensity of suchP There are all quos- 1 lions we might have fuller public infer- ; maiioii on. As health is a great ua- i tional asset our people might, with ad- I vantage, be instructed by public charts | and otherwise on the host means ol . health preservation. A chart ol health zones lor the Dominion ought to be’ available. As laymen we can but 1 touch lightly on these matters. The j simple rules of hyginc in relation to workshops, warehouses, simps, offices and other places in general may he thought to be matters lor the Health Department, but our conviction is that | all are interested, and employers and j operatives must see to the practice oi | health rules. Not in any mood of |H>ssi- j in i sail, or with any disposition to grouch but to carefully sot about making improvements is the course wanted. In a Dominion such as ours, with such splendid natural resources and great opportunities, our people ought to he the very healthiest and happiest on earth. Attention! that's all. It is well worth trying for individually and collectively. Health, happiness and the general welfare is a programme that all can endorse. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League).