OTAKI HEALTH CAMP

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1932, Page 15

OTAKI HEALTH CAMP

WORK OF THE SMITH ,

FAMILY

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I was very surprised on reading last evening's issue of ''The Post" to notice that in the report of the visit of His Excellency the Governor-General to tlie Otaki Health Camp, and in the speeches made at that function, no reference whatever was made to the Smith Family. As a subscriber to the Smith Family >s Health Camp" funds, I was given to understand that tho Smith. Family was responsible for the reopening of tho camp and for the raising of the funds to maintain children in the camp. If this-is hot the case the public should be told so, and; if, on the other hand, tho camp is practically maintained by the Smith Family -Subscribers, why was no roferenco made to this fact when the official function took place at Otaki?—l am, ete-v SUBSCBIBEE HEALTH CAMP FUND.

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY

Tho above letter was referred to-the : secretary of the Smith Family, who stated that his organisation knew" nothing whatever about the function at Otaki other than the report of the proceedings in the newspapers. The position as regards the Health (Damp was that until a few months ago the camp buildings were lying idle, and there was apparently no prospect Of any use being made of them. Bealising the need of treatment- for mal-nourished child* ron, members of the Smith Family executive waited on the Health Camp: Association and made ail offer On behalf of the Smith Family to raise funds for reopening the camp ; for maintaining children theroin. This offer was gratefully accepted by the Health Camp Association in^ a lettor dated 14th May, and the Smith Family immediately set about raising a special Hoalth Camp Fund for children. This fund has been administered by the Smith Family, which has paid for the maintenance of every child Which has received treatment in the camp since it was reopened in June. The-amount-'-paid'; to ■'the Health Camp Association to date, for maintenance of children, totalled £557 15Sj all subscribed by supporters, of thevSmi'th Family, who certainly looked upon the maintenance of the camp as a Smith Family venture. In thi3 connection the following extract fi'Om tho an* nual report of the Wellington Health Camp Association spoke for itself:— "Since 3rd Juno, the Health Camp has been occupied by groups of children from, families suffering on account of unemployment during the present economic depression. It was found that many of the children attending the primary schools were showing signs of inadequate feeding. The Health Camp Association was desirous of placing groups of such children at Otaki, but had not funds to allow1 of it. An appeal made by prominent medical men through the Press resulted in the sum of approximately £90 being ■ contributed -through tho medium of- the 'Evening Post.' At this juncture the well-known 'Smith Family' cainC to our assistance with tho most tolling appeal. It was gratifying to know that tho;pub-lie-evidently- had confidence that money contributed toward the cost of Keeping necessitous children at the Otaki Health Camp wag profitably spont, the response to the 'Sniith Family', appeal making it possible for' us to reopen tho camp on 3rd June, with every prospect of its continuance for .a considerable period. The association' wishes to record its appreciation of ,'the wotk of the 'Smith Family''in raising the money which has made this result possible." In addition to raising funds for the maintenance v o£ children' in the camp, the Smith Family had been instrumental in arranging for the provision of comforts, for the nursing staff, and for a nurso to bo in attendance with the children during- the night. Smith Family subscribers had also provided clothing for children in the camp, a sum Of £75 having been expended in this, and other directions, additional to the maintenance of children. An ample supply of toys, and books had'been.sent, to the camp by the Smith Family,' which had also been instrumental in arranging for the supply of fifty beda and ninety-one mattresses.

A special feature of the Smith Family's work in connection with the Health Camp was its after-camp treatment of children on their return from tho camp, Realising that the improvement in the children's health could only be maintained by" adequate treatment' in their homes on their return, the Smith Family has provided the necessary treatment to ensure the future well-being of the children. In view of these facts, it certainly seemed remarkable that the Smith Family had received no invitation to the Otaki function, not any notification that such function, was to be held, and that no reference had been made to the part it had' played in reopening and maintaining the camp. ;

The Smith Family certainly thought that'in fairness to the general public, who,had subscribed so liberally to the Health Camp funds, some reference should have been made to this fact. Non-recognition of beneficence had a tendency to nullify efforts to raise further funds.