The attention which Great Britain is paying {o its national health is demonstrated by the report in another column of the various Schemes which come into operation during the course of the current year. In one of them upwards of a million boys and girls, leaving school, and being under 10 years of' age did not come sinder the health insurance scheme, will become eligible for medical benefit, thus removing the hiatus which formerly existed between: the time of leaving school and reach-Ing the age mentioned. It is still something of reproach that children should have to be put to work so early, and It is to be hoped that the time will come when children will start work somewhat later in life than is at present provided for, The fight against maternal mortality is still being carried on and during this year a new midwifery service will be established. as the result of which no mother, no matter What her circumstances, need be without the beneMt of expert assistance. Parliament ts expected to pass a bill providing old age pensions for the blind at the age of forty instead of Alty years as at present, while financial assistance xkiven to blind people in their homes will be Fendered under the Blind Persons Act and not under "the Poor Law. thereby removing any faint of pauperism which might- have been felt to exist, The readiness with which blackcoated workers have responded to the insur-lance scheme devised in their behalf is also a Promising development and while much has still to be done along similar lines, the fact that progress is being made, despite other national preoccupations is a matter for congratulation, When to all this is added the Schemes for bringing about a greater deyree of national fitness, it will be realized that Britain is marching abreast with the other nations who have embarked upon similar programmes. Much the trouble in the world to-day, it is reported that who intends recommending that all trade and currency restrictions should be abolished by tthe countries concerned on a basis of reciprocity, If that could be done a big step would be taken towards the establishment of free trade which It {Is generally agreed is sti) one of the world's Beime secesitie,"More intriguing sits Suggestion that the various exchange equallmition funds of the different nations should be combined into one, to be used as a reserve for Stabllzation purpose for the benefit of the countries where currencies might be affected by the return to unrestricted trade, Great Britain and the United States would be the biggest participators in such a fund, but it world scorn
able for the purpose of controlling the vagaries that with the large amount of money 20 aval: of exchange a degree of stability would be brought about which should be conducive of nothing but yood for the whole world, 'This it' may be certain; the success of any such plan would induce other countries outside the scope of the present suggestion {0 come inside for the Very apparent benefit to be derived from it and {f'n the end it resulted in the Dreaking, Gown of trade barriers nothing would prove treater contribution to the lasting peace of the world.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.