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of the physical and mental condition, recreation and preparation
for life's work, and assist or advise in placing out every
boy or girl after leaving school whether in a profession, in
a trade, on the land, in an office, or to qualify for emigration.
It is probable that from lack of such control in the home and
out of it, much of the expenditure on Education and Religion
if absolutely wasted and too often the health of the young is
seriously threatened by the development of evil habits contracted,
in these early impressionable years, as the result of
bad example.
On the whole there is no question but that Public
Health administration, through the Ministry, Public Health
Committees and Officials is gradually effecting reforms and
better conditions throughout the country. We hear for instance
on good authority that, chiefly through the influence
of the organisation of Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics,
a child born to-day will, on the average, live for twelve years
longer than its grandfather; we know there is greater temperance
in food and drink and we believe that civilisation, in
spite of the set-back of the war, is slowly and steadily advancing
and that, as a result of better knowledge, the
general health of the people will improve but, whilst we feel
that, we cannot ignore the fact that there is still much to be
done; and when we think of the ravages of Cancer, of influenza
and pneumonia, of the prevalence of whooping cough,
scarlet fever, measles, chicken pox, diphtheria and numerous
other complaints all probably preventable, we feel that we
cannot yet be proud of our efforts to exterminate disease and
to pass down a clean bill of health to those who follow, but
we can, and you as a Public Health Authority certainly do
add your quota in your own generation in the best interests
of Public Health for the district for which you are responsible.
STATISTICS.
I desire to draw your attention to the many tables of
statistics of our work drawn up with the assistance of my
staff, to be found at the end of the Report. They afford
valuable information of the work for which the Public Health
Committee is responsible.
In conclusion I would like to state that I am always
glad to express my appreciation of the help rendered by my