GROWTH OF HEALTH CAMP MOVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 46, 18 November 1936, Page 9

GROWTH OF HEALTH CAMP MOVEMENT

Adopted Throughout World SUCCESS OF WORK AT OTAKI Dr. Ada Paterson, speaking at the Wellington Rotary Club's luncheon yesterday made it very clear that the children's health camp movement was one which had come to stay, for the simple reason that it fulfilled a natural and necessary function. Such was the spread of the movement to-day that no civilised country was being denied the benefit of health camps for children. Speaking of the spread of this work, Dr. Paterson said that when iu Europe last year she had the pleasure of visiting a children's health camp on the hills above the lake of Geneva where, lowering above the flower-decked hillsides, could be seen the snowclad alps of Switzerland. It was interesting to ascertain there that the child problems of that country were precisely the child problems encountered in New Zealand, and the solution was the same—to use the simple and natural things which life offered. That home was not for poor children only. Children -were sent there from all parts of the world, even the children of wealthy Americans, to regain their health and strength and iu order to remove them from an environment which might not be helpful and to restore them to a simple, natural mode of life best befitting their years; to eat simple, natural food at regular intervals; to sleep the long nights through; aud to take the greatest advantage of the pure air and sunshine. English Camps. Dr. Paterson said she also visited the children’s health camp at Bushy, outside London. This was a special camp for boys who came from the elementary schools of Loudon, about 200 of them at a time. There splendid work was being done. Then she went to

Sunderland, because it was a “depressed area,” winch the Ministry of Health at Home thought she ought to see. That home was situated on a cliff overlooking the North Sea and was an old military hutment. There the undernourished children of Sunderland were sent in order to restore their lost vitality by the same practice which has been found efficient everywhere—good, simple food at regular intervals, and plenty of open air and exercise. The same good work was going on everywhere, in Germany, France, Belgium, Canada, the United States and Italy. Italy was very enthusiastic for child welfare, and the homes for the care of the under-nourished in that country attended to something like 100.000 eases last year. It was only by a close association with these camps that one found that it not only improved bodily health, but was also a factor in the development of the mind. At Otaki, the health camp in which the Rotary Club members were so immediately interested, the great thing was to give the children plenty of time to play on the beach. In that respect Dr. Paterson emphasised the necessity of city authorities guarding against the disposal of open spaces. These spaces, wherever they existed) must be preserved, so that the children could have room in which to run about and play. .Many people regarded the people of this country as rural, but it is known that there had been children taken out from Wellington to Otaki who had never seen a cow milked and who had become tremendously excited on coming upon a wild duck aud her ducklings. So much so that they were inconsiderate enough to take the ducklings back to the camp, where they died, and were buried with military honours under the flagpole. Joy of a Holiday. Dr. Paterson, in referring to the necessity of giving children a change, said that no holiday, however luxuriously arranged, could give a Rotarian a thrill such as was experienced by a child of nine or ten taking the simplest holiday. These children’s health camps were capable, too, of great development. The value of the work had been recognised through the condition of the children when they left camp. The Rotary Club had been interested in the Otaki camp from the outset, and in its representative had been most fortunate in selecting Dr. H. E. Gibbs, who had worked as earnestly and enthusiastically as though he were the medical superintendent receiving £2OOO a year. Dr. Paterson also mentioned the great help given the movement by the Press and the radio. Such was the success of the movement in New Zealand that a children’s health camp organisation had been formed so that the work could be co-ordinated to the fullest advantage and in order that there should be no overlapping. That organisation would be operating this year.

In dwelling on the great help.which the movement had received from the sale of health stamps, Dr. Paterson reminded members that the money so raised in 1929 had been the practical means of transferring the old King George V Hospital from Rotorua to Otaki. Success was their difficulty, as it had brought the camps under the notice of so many that expansion was needed, and at Otaki in particular they must have more equipment and accommodation if the need were to be met.

(Radio Notes and Programmes on Pago 15.)