SALE OF HEALTH STAMPS

Southland Times, Issue 24864, 2 October 1942, Page 5

SALE OF HEALTH STAMPS

CAMPAIGN OPENED IN CITY The 1942 campaign for the sale of health stamps was inaugurated in Invercargill with a brief official ceremony in front of the Chief Post Office yesterday morning. There were present the Mayor (Mr A. Wachner), the chief postmaster (Mr J. Lindsay), Mrs E. V. McKeever (chairman of the Omaui Children’s Health Camp Committee), Mr M. Miller (chairman of the District Health Camp Committee) and Mr L. W. Spencer (secretary). Mr Miller acted as chairman and opened the proceedings by saying that usually when persons went to the Post Office they had to produce licences or coupons. However, on this occasion there were no such requirements and health stamps would be sold to all who would buy. ' “I am very pleased to take part in this ceremony to inaugurate the 1942 campaign for the sale of health stamps,” said the Mayor. “This great work has been going on throughout New Zealand in a quiet way for a number of years and few efforts have achieved such splendid results. The health and welfare of the children must be one of the principal considerations of every person, and in these days, when we are distracted by the conditions of war, it is important that we should remember the coming generation for whom the nation is fighting.” Great work in this way had been done by the Southland Children’s Health Camp Association, said the Mayor. At first Southland children were sent to a camp at Pounawea, but it was soon realized that a Southland camp itself was required. A property at Omaui was bought and the required buildings erected. Since that time 778 children had passed through the camp and all had benefited greatly from the treatment they received there. The number would have been well above 800 only it was found necessary to abandon the Omaui camp last summer. The association hoped, however, that it would be possible to hold a camp there this summer because there were 100 children on the waiting list and it was desirable that they should have treatment. SOLDIERS’ CHILDREN “I am happy to learn that soldiers’ children are to receive preference for admission to the camp,” the Mayor added. “Many of the young fathers in the community have had to join the forces and wives have been left to battle with | the care of a young family.” During the present year the Roxburgh permanent health camp, financed from the George V Memorial Fund, was completed. Southland had a share in this camp and 48 children from this province had already passed through it and 21 more were in residence. This camp was invaluable for children with incipient chest complaints and it was a valuable adjunct to the Omaui camp. Great work was being done by the Health Camp Association. It had been carried on for more than 10 years by a band of enthusiastic workers, among whom Mrs McKeever, Mr Miller and Mr J. Pickard had been very prominent. This scheme for aiding the health of the children was one which deserved the support of all, and he hoped that the public of Invercargill would respond liberally to the health stamp campaign. Mr Lindsay sold the first stamps to the Mayor, who made a substantial purchase. Mr Lindsay and others present also bought stamps and sales were brisk.