Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOMEMBER 26, 1918. NATIONAL HEALTH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1907, 26 November 1918, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOMEMBER 26, 1918. NATIONAL HEALTH.

THE distinctness with which the war has emphasised the necessity to safeguard national health was stressed in a speech recently made in the House of- Commons by Mr Lloyd Ceorge. The Premier said : What is the great lesson of the wav.’ It is that if Britain has to be thoroughly equipped (o meet any emergencies of either war or peace if must take a more constant and a more intelligent interest in the health and litness of the people. If the Empire is to he equal to its task the men and women who make it up must be equal to it. How does Britain stand in that: tight? Wc have done great things in this war. W’e would have accomplished greater Hi this country had been in condition; and a war, like sickness, lays bare the weakness of a constitution. What has been our weakness? Let us talk rpiite frankly. We have had a Ministry of National Service and carefully compiled statistics of the health of the people between the ages of IS and 42. Now, that is the age of Illness, the age of strength. All 1 can tell you is that the results of these examinations are startling, and I do not mind using the word appalling. I hardly dare tell you the results. What does it mean ? It means that we have used our human material in this country prodigally, foolishly, cruelly. 1 asked the Minister of National Service how many more men we could have put into the lighting ranks if the health of the connin' had been properly looked after. I staggered at the reply. It

was a considered reply, and it was “At least one million.” And the vigour and strength of the workers of this country have been unsatisfactory oven in pursuits whore all conditions are favourable to the development of a fine physique. The results in agriculture have been almost as disappointing as in any' other industry. In a thoroughly healthy occupation of that kind everywhere a virile race has been wasted by neglect and want of forethought. and it is a danger to the Stale and to the Umpire. I solemnly warn my I'ellowcountrymen that you cannot maintain an A 1 Empire with a C 3 population.