HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2175, 11 September 1920, Page 2

HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

WE have held the opinion that medical inspection of school children falls short of the mark unless followed by compulsory remedial treatment. Parents are notified of their children's physical defects, etc., and are advised its to treatment. It is now proposed to go a step further and make il a penal offence on parents who neglect lo Inm their children attended 10. We hope this will not raise a scare on the part of llio.-e who lind it dillienll to make ends meet, because onr hospitals .are open for the free treatment of all who are not in a position to pay. Those who min afford to provide their children with proper medical attention, and fail to do so, deserve to be punished. The statute should provide that all children of school age whose pa reals are not in receipt of more than (5 per week shall receive free medical and denial treatment, and the State should provide flic means. The Education Department is publishing a series of interesting articles iu regard lo the mmol' teeth and proper food for infants. In an article on this subject' which we publish elsewhere in lids 1,-sne, the medical expert says; “Butler is of very great, value, likewise milk and cream.” Fancy a family man being asked to provide butler, milk and cream for the proper sustenance of Ids family at the present prices, with a prospect of an immediate increase. It. the Government realise that (he child is the most valuable asset: of the State, (hen it should see to it that provision is made to keep the price of butler and milk within the purchasing power of the family man. If we are to have healthy children we must provide them with plenty of nourishing food, which this country produces in abundance, and it is the duty of the Government to see to it that not one ton of butter leaves these shores until local demands arc assured and met at a price that is within the purchasing power of the poorest family. To fallen butter barons at the sacrifice of the health of onr children is criminal. After local demands are satisfied the industry can do what it likes with the surplus.