PHYSICAL WELFARE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1943, Page 3

PHYSICAL WELFARE

WORK OF GREAT VALUE MUST BE CONTINUED AFTER WAR. PRIME MINISTER’S DECLARATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Prime Minister, in an address to the National Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation, said that two landmarks of the health movement in recent years were the passing of the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act, under which a council was set up and Mr P. A. Smithells, an English expert, engaged as Superintendent of Physical Training for the Education Department. The work done by the physical welfare officers exceeded anything that could have been expected in the war period. He was very pleased to see evidence of their enthusiasm. Any neglect of those beneficial activities after the war would be a betrayal of trust. The Government had a high appreciation of the work already done and whatever support was within its resources would be given. The best service that the council could do now was to prepare for a great extension of activities after the war, to help in ensuring a strong foundation of health for the new generation. Healthy training of body and mind must go on together. Mr Fraser and other speakers emphasised the huge disparity between expenditure (public and private) on the treatment of diseases, and on activities for the prevention of illness. The time had come, he said, for a proper recognition of the truth of the proverb: “Prevention is better than cure.”