SCHEME APPROVED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 293, 24 September 1935, Page 6

SCHEME APPROVED

HEALTH CAMP CAMPAIGN. ASHBURTON MEETING DECIDES. THE RAISING OF FUNDS. In furtherance of the movement for the formation of a Health Camp Association in Ashburton, a largely-attended meeting was held in the Borough Council , Chambers this afternoon. Those present includtd representatives of local bodies, women’s organisations, sports clubs, and other organisations. A number of business and medical men, also school masters, were among those present. The Mayor (Mr W. H. Woods) presided and expressed his pleasure at the splendid attendance. Mr W. J. Minogue (postmaster at Ashburton), who convened the meeting, said it had been decided to again institute the health stamps, but it was not considered that the revenue from the sale of stamps would he sufficient to meet the expenditure connected with, health camps. He dealt at length with the operations and the success of the camps already held. It was hoped, he said, to raise £IO,OOO for the whole of New Zealand. It was doubted whether the full sum could be raised by the‘sale cf stamps. It was felt that funds could be raised by other means. He made it clear that the .Postal Department obtained no revenue from the sale of health stamps. It was hoped, life said, to form a strong committee in Ashburton, where, if a camp for children were inaugurated, a local baker hadi offered to bake all the bread required. Continuing, Mr Minogue stated that the money collected would be expended in the maintenance of health camps of eligible children selected .on medical advice. It had been decided to divide the Dominion into hospital districts. Mr Minogue, continuing, said that all moneys lodged with the Postmaster, as treasurer, would be made available to the committee immediately and not sent to Wellington. Mr W. G. Gallagher (chairman of the Ashburton Hospital Board) said his Board accepted the responsibility of children requiring treatment. Dr. W. R-. R.yburn appreciated the splendid treatment received at the hospital by children. However, the institution could not open its doors too widely, otherwise it would soon be flooded out. Before a camp could .be inaugurated in Ashburton, they would have to be assured of a. suffiicent fund. It might be better, he- said, to spend money on the children rather than on a health camp. T£e doctor finally moved that the meeting approve of the establishment of a fund to give the children of Ashburton health camp treatment. This was seconded by Mr D. A. Morgan and carried. (Proceeding.)