CHILDREN'S HEALTH CAMPS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 42, 13 November 1937, Page 10

CHILDREN'S HEALTH CAMPS

Judging by recent appeals it is evident that the public is not contributing to the children’s health camp funds as freely as in past years. While this is regrettable, the reasons are not difficult to discover. Within the last 12 months many thousands of pounds were freely given by the people toward the King George V New Zealand Memorial Fund for children’s health camps. The prevailing impression was that the fund would be used not only to build new camps but also to maintain them along with existing institutions. The Government, however, has stated that the whole of the money is to be reserved for capital expenditure only. Thus the upkeep of the camps is expected still to fall as an annual charge on the beneficence of voluntary contributors. Unfortunately the signs are unfavourable for the continuation of private giving on the scale experienced in previous years. Many citizens who have hitherto responded generously to. the appeals are feeling the effects of high taxation and the steep rise in the cost of living. Many others, moreover, contend that, as the Government has increased taxation largely for social services, fewer demands should be made. on private philanthropy. The springs of private benevolence, are drying up. This is an unfortunate and undesirable state of things in any community, but in face of prevailing conditions it is not altogether g surprising development