HEALTH CAMPS.

Southland Times, Issue 22295, 10 April 1934, Page 9

HEALTH CAMPS.

To the Editor. Sir, —In the advertised notice of the annual meeting of the Southland Children’s Health Camp Association among the items of business is one concerning the establishment of a permanent camp. This is a matter about which the public who are supporting this very laudable movement should express an opinion at the meeting. In many countries of the world these health camps have become firmly established. Italy is perhaps one of the most advanced in this respect, for there Mussolini has a very efficient organization working along health camp lines for the building up of the poorer and undernourished children.

In New Zealand, Wanganui was the first district to take this matter in hand. T°-d a y permanent camps have been established by local organizations at Port Waikato, where two or three hundred children spend a glorious holiday every year, and at Otaki, where batches of children are sent from Wellington and district all the year round. The Education Department supplies the teachers. In Dunedin also a start has been made to erect permanent buildings at Waikouaiti. The racing club there has generously granted the loan of its grounds and buildings. If Southland is to keep pace in caring for its poorer and less fortunate children with all other centres in the Dominion then we will have to consider this matter of erecting a permanent camp in some suitable place in Southland. We hope to see a good attendance on Tuesday evening.—l am. JOHN CHISHOLM.