PLEA FOR HEALTH CAMPS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 94, 21 March 1931, Page 8

PLEA FOR HEALTH CAMPS.

A strong plea to popularise health camps was made by Doctor M. Spencer when addressing a Rotary meeting at Wellington. The speaker contrasted health activities in countries of the Old World with similar endeavours in the Dominion, pointing to the widespread movement. to build a strong healthy mankind by living whenever possible in the open spaces. The people of the United States and Germany are strongly attached to the outdoor cult,- and Doctor Spencer spoke of the many children’s camps to be seen in the United States during the summer months, some the product of private enterprise which charges a fee for each child who attends, and others arranged by philanthropic institutions. German students strongly favour week-end jaunts, and the greater the tax on their physical powers the more they enjoy the strenuous exercise. Summer and winter excursions are both popular. In New Zealand, as Doctor ' Spencer pointed out, splendid work has been done by the promoters of health camps, notably those annually held by Doctor Elizabeth Gunn and attended children in the Wanganui Education Board- Permanent health camps are also established in other centres, mainly as the result of the generosity of private citizens. In Ute.ki there is a site for a camp which, when developed, will be a boon to the city children who will find the renewed vigour which comes from living in the fresh air and sunlight. Probably because in the past most parents have been able to take their children to the seaside, and also because New Zealand enjoys a most equable climate, with the advantage of strong sunshine in some parts during the winter months, the health camp movement, is quite recent. Notwithstanding such advantages seven per cent, of the children in our schools last year suffered from malnutrition. As the towns and cities develop further, and open areas beepme fewer, there will be a tendency for an increased percentage of such cases unless the children can be o-iven the corrective treatment of health camps. Their natural heritage, especially in this Dominion, is Nature’s sunlight and fresh air, and Doctor Spencer s plea to popularise the health camps should not fall on deaf ears.