HEALTH CAMPS FOR CHILDREN

Northern Advocate, 11 July 1936, Page 9

HEALTH CAMPS FOR CHILDREN

MINISTER PRAISES MOVEMENT

[Per Press Association. — Copyright .] WELLINGTON, This Day.

'A conference of delegates from organisations associated with health camps for children was opened by the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, yesterday. The Minister said the whole of Parliament was interested in the work of the children’s health camps.

Ever since the movement began in 1919, said Mr Fraser, those interested in the welfare of children had watched the movement spread—very slowly at first, as was the case with all pioneer movements—but gradually gaining strength and increasing in numbers and in scope of work. This had been brought about particularly through the help of the school hygiene division of the Health Department, and the various doctors and nurses who had constituted themselves missionaries of the work. The movement was regarded today as one of the best steps ever taken in the Dominion for the promotion of the health of children. The Post Office had lent valuable aid by arranging for the issue of health stamps, and numbers of citizens also had assisted. The Government wished to maintain the goodwill, voluntary effort and wonderful spirit already shown.

The object of the confei’ence. said the Minister, was to lake stock of what had been achieved and to look forward and to decide how future efforts could*be made efficient to carry out the important work. The Minister referred to matters that needed attention, such as organisation and the avoidance of overlapping. He said they must divest themselves of parochialism, and even provincialism, in connection with this health movement. It must be simply a question of restoring children to health. He was sure that spirit would pervade the conference, which the Government wished the greatest possible success.