VIENNA’S EXAMPLE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 410, 17 April 1937, Page 2

VIENNA’S EXAMPLE

WELFARE OF YOUTH. HEALTH FOR A GENERATION. Socialist Scheme. Now that the British Government na-s adopted a plan for the improvement of the nation’s health aind physique it is timely to recall the magnificent system by which the former Social Democratic Municipal Government in Vienna succeeded during its 15 years’ rule in changing the population of a town badly shaken by the vicissitudes of a lost war and by the effects of four years’ blockade, starvation, poverty and disease into probably the fittest town population of Europe, writes the Vienna correspondent of the Manchester Guardian. In the days after the war foreign nelief administrations, such’ as the Save the Children Fund, the Society of Friends, and others, had a great, share in saving the population of this ov-'n from the immediate worst effects of the catastrophe, but after 1921 the Social Democratic Vienna municipality had to bear the brunt of the work. The late Professor Julius Tandler (who died last year) was entrusted with the leadership of the office of health and social policy of the Vienna municipality in 1919. Pro tensor Tandler wa s a scientist of great fame, an anatomist, but he proved by his work that he could also make his mark in practical affairs. Rise of Tuberculosis. The worst effects of the 'War in Vienna were the enormous increase of tuberculosis and rickets, both results of under-nourishment, the large number of orphans and the enormous child mortality. Even amongst adults mortality increased by 60 per cent, as compared with the pre-war days; child mortality increased by 100 per cent. Professor Tandler realised that his first efforts must be to eliminate the worst effects of the post-war privations. The previous municipality poss ssed a home for tuberculosis children at Belaggio on the Adriatic Sea. Dr Tandler, however, found that these children, though often cured in •he Warm, salty air of Grado, relapsed when they re.urn d to their Vienna homes. One must remember that überculosis was regarded as the “morbus Viennensis”—no big city in Europe had such mortality from this terrible sickness as pr/-w<ar Vienna. Tandler, after long consideration, decided that the children must be cured 'roni this disease in an ■ atmosphere, or in such climatic conditions, which "Uld correspond to that in which j'jey would b ■ compelled to live later, tie therefore erected tubercular •linics for children on the- hills at he edge .of Vienna, on the sunny slopes of Baumgarten, Grinzing, and ath r suburbs/. Day and night the j phildrefi had plenty of fresh air and , as mu,ch sunshine as possible and : '•'ere provided wi.h wholesome food. This was only part of the campaign against tuberculosis. The huge “sunshine” tenement houses in Vienna were built with the view to bringing up a healthier new generation. Onlyi

30 to 35 per cent, of the ground space was allowed to ba covered by buildings; the rest wa,s left for gardens, parks and pools. Each flat had large balconies -and the windows of these tenement houses were fixed in such i way that each flat might obtain as much direct sunshine as possible. Food at the Schools. But the other .children were also provided for. Each child who had not enough nourishing food at home could obtain breakfasts and lunch at rhe “Schuelerausspeisung” in the school. The food was prepared from v-'holesome ingredients in a central kitchen, and was then distributed to he various schools in fast vans. Only if bo h father and mother of the schoolboy were working was a sni'all fee accepted. The welfare organisar tion of the municipality, however, began eyen before the birth of the child. There wajj an extensive Welfare organisation for pregnant mothers. If they, registered in the sixth month of tfieir pregnancy they not only received a. complete outfit for their future babies worth about two English pounds but, if they were willing to an examination in one of he 36 advice centres for mothers they received not only free medical attention, but also a benefit for several weeks after their delivery. There were years v'hen 10,000 women | enjoyed this benefit. There was also j a similar benefit fund for women in i the last weeks of 'their pregnancy while many could go to the maternity home of the municipality. Each unemployed or destitute woman received one litre of milk per day for one year free of charge after her confinement. More Welfare Work. Immediately after the birth of the child the welfare organisation stepped in. If a child was born in those days in Vienna one of the many “Fuersorgeraetifi” (welfare inspectors) visited the mother and inquired about the wishes of th 3 family, if the parentg were well-to- i do or were able to look after the child, then the inspector just congratulated the mother on the birth of the child. But if there was need or unhealthy living conditions, then the work of the welfare organisation began. There was, of course, no compulsion in the system. The Social Democrats, as their name showed, were enemies of compulsory' measures. Their weapon was persuasion. I If the new-born infant was illegitimate, the Youth Office of the Welfare Organisation automatically took over •he guardianship of the child. In the case of legitimate and poor children beiiefits as high a<s £l/10/- per Week were paid monthly. If the child was in unhealthy or if the father was a or if the economj|C conditions of the family would not. permit proper attention, 'he Youth Office, through the district nspe-ctors, intervened. The same occurred if the child was sick or of poor constitutiion, or i.f the parents happened to be ill. On the recommendation of the competent inspectors the child then was taken to the cen ral children’s home. At this home there Were three sections; one for babies up to two years of age\ one for children from two to six years t>ld, and the last for children above that age, up to fourteen. This, however, served only as quarantine, and the children were kept there only for a few weeks, during Which the doctors and the psychologists examined their physical and mental .condition. If the psychotestg were favourable, the

children’were returned to the parents, and were kept in municipal kindc’rgatten or schools in the morning, while their afternoons, in the absence of their parents, were spent at the Jugendhorte. Archduke’s Residence. In case of adverse results to the psychopathic tests the children were 'iaken to the Wilhtlminenberg. This palace, built on a sunny hilltop within the boundaries of Vienna, used to be the residence of the Archduke Leopold Salvator, but was bought by rhe Vienna municipality in 1927 and converted into a children’s home. Dr Tandler ordered this inscription to be placed on the wall: “He who erects palaces for children breaks down prison walls.” Here further psychopathic bests were carried out for several months, and then the children were divided amongst the various institutions Recording to the result of their examinations. The pres.nt Government of Vienna discontinued the old practice, and the palace has become a convent of the Vienna Boys’ Choir —a choir of young Catholic boys who sing' at; Mass in he chapel of the former Imperial Palace. Sick and children were sent from Wilhelminenberg to fosterparents in the ( country, while some of the girls had to be sent to reformatory schools, destined for the educarion of the morally or mentally deficient. The Tenement Houses. The new tenement houses in Vienna, which provided homes for more than 240,000 of the population (out of the* total of 1,800,000), had magnificent kindergarten attached to Hhern and elementary schools adjoining them v'here the children obtained their primary education. These schools and kindergarten vero kept remarkably clean; they were furnished with all the requisite s of modern education. The municipality had more than 120 such kindergarten The school fees were small, and more dian 40 per cent, of the children were freed even from that. The other municipal schools were equipped With fine gymnasium rooms. Frequent excursions to the surroundings of Vienna were arranged; sports were encouraged and sports equipment provided. The municipality had mor© than thirty skating rinks for children who liked ice-skating; in winter they could swim in the lofty hall of the Amalienhad; in summer there were a score of swimmingpools erected by the- municipality in various public parks. Playgrounds wore also amply provided for. The children were frequently given a free medical examination. This welfare and youth protection Organisation of the Vienna municipal, ity was certainly the bes'hthoughtout and most: efficiently organised single system in the world Unfortunately it no' longer exists. Though the new rulers who came to power after the terrible civil war of February, 1934, were .compelled to retain at least a fraction of the old institutions, the system, as such, has disappeared. But the benefits of it remain, and when-the Schuschnigg Government introduced compulsory service in Austria it undoubtedly profited by the high percentage of youth fit for military service in Vienna.