EDUCATION AND HEALTH.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3457, 10 April 1920, Page 7

EDUCATION AND HEALTH.

INQTERXVOVEN IN'l7Eßl£S’l‘S_ VIEWS OF HON. C. J. 1-‘ARR. The announcement that the Hon. C. J. Parr had assumed the important portfolio of Publiofloalth and Hospituls, in addition to that of Education, has come as a surprise. In the‘? ‘course of an interview at Auckland, 011. Monday evening, Mr Parr said he had been oiferod and, after consideration, had accepted the second portfolio.

“The work of these two- Departments,” said Mr Parr, would run. well t-ogether. It will he a decided advantage to the Education Department and to the young people that the Minister for Education is also in charge of the State medic-. 11 serxrices. I hope to extend and greatly improve the arrangements by which the State is to deal with the health and, particularly the dental needs of school children. My fortnight. of preparatory work in Wellington lms satisfied me that this can be best affected with the aid of the Public. Health Depafiment, which I think ought naturally to concern itself‘ with the health -of the children. No national system of education can «lisergard the physical well-being 0’! the pupils. It is the first thing. A tl-a:in'ed brain will be of little use if the body be not sound and vigorous. The Government! espeseially desires to help the children of the backblocks districts, where‘ dentists and doctors are not to be had. I.hope soon to make a practical beginning with the dental services. We cannot forget that the statistics of physical rejects and unfits during the war -all emphasised the necessity for action with our young people, even in favoured T\'e\\' Ze:Llan(l."'