First general report
1922-05 1922 1920s 55 pages : illustrations by local authorities, far more readily than he would be all the while he could only speak as a sentimentalist. It was worth doing. We had splendid material amongst our population, but we grossly neglected it. It was a criminal matter that we did not bring...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
| Language: | English English |
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London : People's League of Health
May 1922
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/A2A159C8-7F38-4171-B88F-C062C679B9FD http://hdl.handle.net/10796/BE5365FD-D3B8-4754-8D6D-3ED581F0C03D |
| Summary: | 1922-05
1922
1920s
55 pages : illustrations
by local authorities, far more readily than he would be all the while he could only speak as a sentimentalist. It was worth doing. We had splendid material amongst our population, but we grossly neglected it. It was a criminal matter that we did not bring up our young people in all classes with a great civic ideal — an ideal of brotherhood. We had no happiness and no real conception of life until we had suffered and made sacrifices in order that others might be better and stronger. The People's League of Health was the outcome of a longing to try to be of civic service, and he knew of no league likely to be of greater service to the Empire. (Cheers.) THE REAL ENEMY. Viscount BURNHAM said the national welfare depended on the national health, and ignorance was the real enemy — much worse in its effects than flagrant vice. The health of the country was in its men and women, and by the agency of the People's League of Health they had to bring public opinion into line with public authority. There was no doubt that those who served the public health — and there was a great army of them — did not have the cordial co-operation of the people in making the best of the conditions in which we lived. Years ago Carlyle spoke of the gospel of soap and water, but there was also the gospel of fresh air. In the poverty-stricken quarters of this city people seldom opened the windows. His lordship also gave the example of the Old Province of Quebec in the Dominion of Canada, where phthisis was rampant, and in spite of their large families the growth of population was seriously checked, although it was almost entirely rural and agricultural. He claimed that our laws relating to public health had been greatly improved in recent years, and that the administration of those laws was better than ever before. At the same time, no one recognised more than he did that public health officers would never be able to make the best use of those laws until they had the support of all classes of the community. At present there was very often latent antagonism between the officers of public health on the one hand and the people who would benefit by their administration on the other. Perhaps now the means and the machinery were fuller and more adequate than they ever had been. We had a Ministry of Health, and the very fact that it was so called was a recognition by Parliament of the importance of health. The State could not vitalise a movement: it could only organise it. Seventy years ago there arose a great movement in this country for national security by means of volunteers. The time had arrived now when there should be another national movement of the same kind — for national health, which was national security: (Cheers.) But it must be voluntary. The State could not do it if it would. It would not attempt to do it, because it knew perfectly well that in all probability it would arouse hostility rather than promote its object. Meetings such as that one could do an immense deal to bring about the realisation of their hopes. After all, it was not only a question of physical health; it was also a question of the spiritual health of our nation. (Cheers.) "LEARNING TO LIVE." Sir JOHNSTON FORBES-ROBERTSON, speaking on the value of recreation, said he looked upon the health of the people as even more important than their education. A person who was physically unfit could not be properly educated, and statistics showed the appalling state of affairs that existed. In every crowded centre there should be theatres where people could see good plays at a low price. He did not believe in giving anything in this world, not even education, without the people being called upon to pay something for what they received. Giving was hopeless, and undermining the morality of the people. There should be entertainments provided — not free, of course — to attract if possible, to some extent, the people who now went three and four times a week to the cinema. The cinema was a wonderful institution, and would do excellent work in the future when brought to a normal and reasonable state : but the exhibitions to-day were most undesirable in many cases. Parks and open spaces were particularly valuable, and their creation should be encouraged. He suggested that the London squares should be opened to the public and the children. He believed that one of the things that would quickly put the present terrible state of affairs right was national service. (Cheers.) People took compulsory education lying down; that was compulsory training for the brain; and they should now be asked to accept, in the same way, compulsory training of the body, which meant learning to live. Sometimes we saw people walking about in London — and not always poor people — who were unable to look after themselves, and he wondered whether it would not be as well to put up notice boards, "Look and listen," so heedless were the people who thronged the streets. The value of education in mothercraft was inestimable, and he felt that no young woman of 17 or 18 should leave the control of the teachers without knowing how she came into the world. (Cheers.) Miss OLGA NETHERSOLE conveyed the thanks of the League to Countess CURZON for inaugurating her official work for it by appealing for £100,000. It ought not to be difficult, she thought, in this great country to raise such a sum. In these days there was a great call for economy, but to deny the people of this country that which was essential for their health and well-being was false economy. There was a distinguished company present. 47
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