HAPPY CAMPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21698, 13 January 1934, Page 13

HAPPY CAMPS

HEALTH OF CHILDREN SCENES AT PORT WAIKATO VISIT PAID BY MINISTER Yesterday was an outstanding day at the Children's Health Camp at Port Waikato, for it was marked by the > annual visit of the Hon. J. A. Young. Minister of Health. The 210 children selected by the Waikato Children's Camp League from less privileged homes in the Hamilton district had had a fortnight in which to benefit from their healthy surroundings, and they gave the Minister and his party an exuberant welcome. It was perfectly clear that they had benefited physically, mentally and socially by the ramp life, and had settled down to enjoy it with zust. The chief officers of the camp, Mrs. C. H. Ross, Mr. W. H. Paul and Mrs. H. D. Cobb, the ambulance officer, add to special ability and enthusiasm for this work the experience gained in six previous camps at this choice spot: and they have brought the whole organisation to a very high state of'j perfection. They have the loyal assistance of a band of 1.5 boys and eirls choßen from the prefects of the Hamilton High School and Technical. School. These are known as. . "uncles" and "aunties" to the children under their charge, whose willing response to the wise discipline so essential to camp life is very gratifying to see. The Minister Greeted The Minister arrived shortly before noon to find the boys and girls drawn up in rows to greet him with the camu haka and rousing cheers. Across the main entrance was the word "Haeremai" traced out artistically in hydrangea flowers from the camp grounds, worked in to a background of s fresh manuka. The Minister was shown the excellent and orderly arrangement# for dinner. . '

So well is the detail organised that over 200 generous platefuls of meat and vegetables are placed hot on the tables in a matter of two or three minutes, while the children are as- 1 sembling outside to the sound of the drum. They march ill to music to their places—l 4 and a prefect tabla —and sing a reverent grace before being seated.

Many of the children are. small and have not been in good health, but that there is nothing wrong with their collective appetites may be judged from the fact that a single meal absorbs 701b. of beef, 1£ sugar bags of potatoes, a copper full of peas, and 27 double loaves. Thirty pounds of jam are required for the even ins: meal. The children are allowed to help themselves to butter and jam, and it says much for them that this plan has proved quite a success. The Children's Concert

After the mid-day meal, at which no restriction is placed on the children's appetites, they march out again to music, and an hour's rest is then compulsory. They spend the time in or about the dormitories or in the fringe of the beautiful bush alongside the camp. Yesterday they came together again in the dining hall for a concert and to hear their ,guest, the Minister of Health. . Mrs. Ross' own musical talent enables her to discover at once and bring out any such talent in the children. They gave a charming and unstudied entertainment. ' After some rousing community singing individual boys and girls mounted the platform at the briefest notice and sang or recited with all the natural simplicity of childhood. There was a Maori- song aii-d a song in French from two little girls, and a boy played the mouth organ tunefully while he juggled balls neatly with his free hand. The Minister told the children howmuch he had enjoyed their welcome and their entertainment, and complimented them ofi their behaviour* and loyalty to the camp officers. His reference to the self-denying labours of these officers brought cheers that made the rafters ring. He drew attention to one of the fine mottoes that adorn the hall, "The best wealth is health," and told them of the value of sunshine and fresh air, of cleanliness and plenty of sleep. Love of Nature In speaking of the beautiful native bellbirds and tuis and others constantly heard from the camp and the bush they inhabit, he explained how, in the balance of nature, birds and bush depended upon each other, and without them there would be no such lovely stream as flowed through tlieir camp in summer time. The children were lined up each to receive a chocolate ice, the gift of a generous visitor from. Hamilton. They did not litter the ground with the wrappings. Hearty farewells were prolonged for a little, and then a couple of hundred sun-tanned, scantily clad, carefree boys and girls trooped off along the road with their "uncles" and "aunties" to swim and splash in tho safe and sheltered waters inside the Waikato Bar. Across the road from the children's camp is a Y.M.C.A. camp using tents and a large house recently erected. In these are 21 boys from the Hamilton Y.M.C.A., under Mr. and Mrs. L. Cato. All the lads were drawn up in true military style for the Minister's inspection, and he was received with all the honours of an official salute from the three rifles that the camp boasts. The tents were models of neatness and were decorated with ferns and greenery for the occasion, Y.M.C.A. Boys' Camp Again the Minister spoke a few words of congratulation and friendly advice, which was supplemented by two other visitors, Mr. F. Finlay, president of the Hamilton Y.M.C.A., and Mr. W. Fraser, headmaster of the Hamilton Technical School. A fearsome camp war-cry was given by the boys, in response. To the casual visitor the Port Waikato camp seems now sufficiently near perfection, but Mr. Paul, the president of the Waikato Children's Camp League, has many plans for its improvement. Orchards are being planted and level playing greens laid out. Preliminary work has been done in preparation for a bowling green, which is proposed to be completed by local residents for their use. Tlie 70 acres recently added to Mr. E. Spargo's original gift of 51 acres ia to bo turned into a dairy farm, and attached to the overseer's house already is a hostel intended as a resting place for youthful trampeis. The whole locality is most richly endowed with possibilities of healthy recreation and enjoyment, and doubtless as the years; pass many pleasant dreams are yet to have their fulfilment there.