Health Camps

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21378, 22 January 1935, Page 10

Health Camps

The Sunlight League and its many friends in Christchurch will be gratified and encouraged by the remarks of the Minister for Health, after his visit to the children's camp organised by the league at Pigeon Bay. His praises were free but measured, as those of a man of science should be; and nothing that the Minister said is more directly to the point or more valuable than his statement that such health camps " not only help the children to re- " cuperate but teach them the value " of habits of domestic discipline . . . " [and] the elementary laws of "health." It is not, of course, the primary object of the Sunlight League, through the camps, to repair, though that is done, but to teach and to construct; and so candid an avowal as the Minister's that this teaching and this building are necessary (and neglected) works is the strongest possible commenda-' tion of the work of a society which has stepped in to overcome neglect and rouse a sense of duty. "Many " children in the cities of New Zea- " land do not seem to be as robust "as they should," he said, and pointed to the causes in dietary errors, too much excitement, and irregular and insufficient rest. It may be a little humiliating to parents to learn from their children, happier and healthier in appearance and grounded in wiser tastes and habits, after a spell in a health camp, that a new standard is set before them; but only the obstinately foolish will be ungrateful for the lesson or decline to accept it. The wise will set themselves to take the fullest advantage from the teaching, of the camps, and will give them the fullest possible support; and this is wisdom for the Government as well as for the parent. The organisation of health camps has spread throughout New Zealand, and has not been denied State help; but a little more organisation would strengthen the claims of the movement for further aid and, if the Minister's warmly expressed sympathy is a fair guide, they would hardly be denied. The present admirable but small beginnings would then beget a future of wide, national benefit- _______________