HEALTH CAMPS

Evening Star, Issue 25770, 17 April 1946, Page 11

HEALTH CAMPS

CENTRAL COUNCIL MEETING The quarterly meeting oi' the Otago and Southland Health Camp Central Council was held recently at Roxburgh, when the chairman, the Rev. J. Chisholin, presided. The following delegates were present: Mrs Marshall Macdonald (Waikouaiti), Mrs E. V. McKeever and Mr' M. Miller (Southland), Mrs A. T. Harris and Mr G. Ashcroft (South Otago), Mr N. H. Colquhoun (North Otago), MrE. J. Smith (chief postmaster), Mr J. J. .Mario* (Dunedin), Mr W. R. Bruce (Education Board), Mr J. H. Waigth (Roxburgh Committee), Mr .1. H. White (hon. architect), and Miss K.. R. Standage (secretary) • The delegates inspected the buildings and grounds, and congratulated the matron and staff on the good work being done. The children spent half an hour demonstrating special remedial exercises, and health camp songs and dances. The present group have been in residence for five weeks, and are beginning to show an improvement in health, although some are still well below standard health. There have been several cases of mumps and chickenpox, but these are, recovering. Several suggestions from the recent conferences at Roxburgh regarding health stamp publicity were discussed. A larger sum will be spent in advertising in provincial newspapers, and an adequate supply of first-day covers will be issued free again this year. The possibility of opening summer camps for the longer period of six weeks was considered, delegates pointing out the difficulties in obtaining staff and buildings for this length of time. Reports will be received from the medical officers of health from the various districts on the desirability _of this innovation, both from the point of view of th*e benefit accruing to the children and the suitability of the summer camps for accommodation for six weeks.

In the evening members attended a public meeting of the Roxburgh citizens, convened to re-form the local area committee. This meeting was presided over bv tlie mayor, Mr T. Waigth, and Mr Chishohn explained the provisions of tho newly-issued constitution of the Federation of Health Camps with respect to local area committees. A strong committee was formed, the object of which will be to assist in the running of the camp where possible, and in the _ promotion of the movement in the district. It was agreed that tho committee should be linked up with the Dunedin District Executive, rather than with the South Otago area, to which it had previously belonged.