BRITISH BABIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1938, Page 2

BRITISH BABIES

UNRIVALLED OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALTH.

PROPECTS FOR WEALTH AND WORK. In 1938 the future of the boy or girl born in Britain or the Empire reaches a peak of happy possibilities. Their hope of spending useful, happy lives in conditions of peace is unrivalled under the flag of any other nation. Here are some of the major blessings which Britain’s babies now enjoy as part of their heritage. Health: Every child is born the citizen of a country with a mortality rate among the lowest in the world. The figure is 12.4 for every 1000 of the population. The physique of English children reveals an astonishing improvement. Lord Stanhope, President of the Board of Education, stated in a recent speech: "There have been increases of two inches in the average height and seven or eight pounds in weight of school-children in the last 30 years.” Every year Britain spends something like £50,000,000 directly in health services, on parks, hospitals, child welfare and health centres. Wealth: Boys and girls born of British parents have greater opportunity of advancement than children in other countries. Britain’s national income has now reached the record total of five thousand million pounds a year. In addition, our children have open to them the infinite variety of work provided by the countries of the Empire overseas. In the Mother country alone 25,000,000 men and women are members of families whose earnings exceed £1 per week per head. In the last financial year the British people were able to save a total of £440,000. Education: Faculties for learning, from the elementary school, to advanced education, are greater in England than elsewhere. Every child is given opportunity, whether born of poor or wealthy parents. Board of Education statistics reveal the unexpected fact that out of the total number of full-time students at Britain’s universities between 40 and 50 per cent are receiving financial assistance of some kind from other than private sources. Emigration: Every year 25,000 men and women find employment overseas in the countries of the Empire. Every child born in England has the opportunity, if he wishes to take, of accepting one of a variety of jobs abroad. ' Recreation: Britain’s prosperity, which enables the people to save £400,000,000 a year, still provides them with sufficient money to spend a further £200,000,000 a year in amusing themselves. Last year Britain spent £43,000,000 in cinemas; £100,000,000 went on various forms of racing (including betting). Football fans pay £50,000 every week to watch their favourite teams. One family in every six or seven owns a motor-car. Even that does not end the list of blessings to which British babies are heirs. They live in. the security of the best defended country in the world, and one of the most peaceful internally. They are born of parents who are respected all over the world for the pains they take to ensure their children’s welfare and their future success in life. For babies, Britain is the real Land of Smiles.