HEALTH STAMP CAMPAIGN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 254, 24 September 1935, Page 9

HEALTH STAMP CAMPAIGN.

WI-lAT IT CAN ACHIEVE. NATIONAL SURVEY OF VALUABLE WORK. The 1935 health stamp campaign will be officially inaugurated on Sunday evening, September 29, by His Excellency the Governor-General Viscount Galway., who as its patron will commend the movement to the people of the Dominion through the medium of a radio address to be broadcast from all national stations. The aim is to raise at least £IO,OOO for health camp organisations which for some years have been doing splendid work throughout the Dominion, hampered, however, by the modest nature of their financial resources. This year’s health for postage, Id for health”- —is a competitive design by Mr S. Hall, of ’Wellington. It is twice the size of the ordinary penny stamp, and the design, in a vertical panel with a key-pattern border, emphasises that the key to health is sunshine. Within the key-shaped central panel ■ appears a liappy child in a batning costume, playing at the seaside.

The hon. ‘organiser of the campaign (Mr L. O. Hooker) has secured enthusiastic co-operation from many helpers throughout the Dominion, and within a few weeks of commencing his work 70 committees hud been organised. Their number is rapidly growing, and, as the contributions from any district will be spent for the benefit of the children in that district, special stimulus is thus given to local effort.

The children’s health camp movement has grown within a few years to substantial proportions, the good work extending from Auckland to Southland, with at least eleven organisations concerned in holding camps. Last year, through their instrumentality., nearly 2000 children enjoyed happy and healthful holidays under proper supervision. Special attention in all cases was given to their diet, recreation and rest, and the children left the camps not only improved physically but trained to tako care of their health. The AYellington Children’s Health Camp Association conducts a camp in permanent buildings near the beach at Otaki, and it was open throughout the year, except for a period of six' weeks, with an average of 60 to 70 children, extended during the Christmas holidays to 90 children. The minimum period for admission is six weeks ,and 336 children bad their lives brightened and their health improved by last year’s work. They come not only from Wellington, but from various towns along the west coast as far as New Plymouth and on the east coast as far as Napier. One interesting feature is that the Education Department recognises the camp as a school and provides two teachers. The lessons are usually given “without tears,” as the committee explains, under the fir-trees in fine weather.