NATIONAL HEALTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1918, Page 5

NATIONAL HEALTH.

Tlhe distinctness with which the y/%t has emphasised the necessity to -safe? guard national health was stressed in a speech recently made in the House of Common:.; by Mr Lloyd George. The Premier said:—What is the great lesson of the war? It is that if Britain has to.bo thoroughly equipped to meet any emergencies of either war or paaco it raus,t take a more constant and a more intelligent interest in the health ai'd fitness of the people.' If the Empire is to be cnnal to its task the men and A" onsen... ! ,viho make it up must be equal to 'ei. : 'Sfow does Britain stand in tlnj* .''•Jxfc'.' \Vo have done great tilings in this war. We would have accomplished greater if this countryj -;• hitd 'been in condition; and a war, like sickness, Ja.ye bare the weakness of ii ,; : constitutiax Wilt;i has boon our weakness:' Letfii talk quite frankly. We have had a Ministry of National Service and carefully compiled 'Statistics of the.health of the people between ilka ages j of IS aid 42: Now, that is the-'age/' J of fitnciJ, the age- of strength. All I can tell you is' that the results of these examinations are startling, and I do not mind using tlbe word appalling. I hardly dare tell you the results. What does it mean? It means thai! wo have used our human material in this country prodigally, foolishly, cruelly. It asked the Minister of National Service lliow many more men we could have put into the fighting ranks if the health of the country had been properly looked after I staggered at the reply. It was a considered reply, and it was "At least one million." And the vigor and ■strength of the workers of this country have been unsatisfactory oven in pursuits where all conditions are favorable to the development of a fino physique. The results in agriculture have been almost as disappointing as in any otue mlutis Tn a thoroughly he ill n ouupition of that kind everywlin > i \ nip lace has been waßted bji nesle-t ind want of foiothought, and it i i nitrei to the State and to the Pun i I -olcmn'v wain my fellowcmntisimi that you cannot maintain an Al* E-BSu-e wta a -