EDUCATION AND HEALTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1920, Page 6

EDUCATION AND HEALTH.

INTERWOVEN INTERESTS. The announcement that the Hon. C. J. Parr has assumed th e important portfolio of Public Health, and Hospitals, in addition to that of Education, has come as a surprise. In the course of an interview, Mr. Parr ,said he had been offered and, after consideration, had accepted the second portfolio. |'The work of these two Departments," said Mr. Parr, "would run well together. It will be a decided advantage to the Education Department and to the voun« people that the Minister for Education is also in charge of the State medical services. 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 preparatorv work in Wellington has satisfied me that this can be best affected with the aid of the Public Health Department, which I think ought naturallv to concern itself with the health of the children. No national system of education can disregard the physical well-being of the pupils. It is the first thing. A trained brain win be of little use if the bodv be not sound and vigorous. The Government especially desire* to help the children of the hackblocks districts where dentists and doctors are not to be had. I hope soon to make a practical beginning with the dental services, VVe 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 favored New Zealand."