HEALTH CAMPAIGN

Northern Advocate, 4 September 1935, Page 9

HEALTH CAMPAIGN

STAMPS AND CAMPS. WELFARE OF CHILDREN. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. t Special to “Northern Advocate ”3 WELLINGTON, This Day. Mr L. O. Hooker, honorary organiser for the Health Stamp and Health Campaign for this year, in speaking at the lunchieon of the Feilding Civic Club yesterday, gave an outline of the organisation being put into operation in connection with the campaign. The two most important points dealt with were the arrangements for the special collection of money and the dealing with the same. Both of these points had been discussed with Sir Alexander Young, the Minister of Health, and as a result the following telegram was received by Mr Hooker from Sir Alexander;— “Hitherto proceeds of the sale of health stamps have been allocated according to postal districts. This entails rather wide areas, having in some cases no true relationship to the activities of children’s health camp organisations. “I welcome and approve your suggestion to attach the moneys to hospital districts, and if you can be instrumental in setting up properly constituted committees or associations in hospital districts where no organisations at pres-;' ertt exist, I shall be pleased to recognise such bodies and to entrust them with the administration of the funds raised. The only condition is that the moneys shall be expended in the maintenance at health camps of eligible children selected on the. advice of officers of the school medical service, or on the recommendation of a medical practitioner. . , . “Generally speaking, I do hot favour at this stage the use of health stamp moneys for capital expenditure, but in the main centres, where no suitable buildings exist, I would' consider representations for allocation Of part of the funds towards capital expenditure if the expected results from the, sale of stamps are attained. “In many districts, particularly small hospital districts, the funds can be more beneficially used for the immediate help of, needy children by sending them to an .existing health camp where proper routine is established, than by expenditure on building and equipment. “It is very heartening -to learn, of the encouraging response you are receiving, and I-wish you the fullest success with your campaign.”