INCREASED COSTS OF HEALTH CAMP

Southland Times, Issue 25746, 9 August 1945, Page 7

INCREASED COSTS OF HEALTH CAMP

Meeting Of Otago And Southland Council The cost of both wages and supplies had risen during the past year, stated the secretary (Miss K. R. Standage) in presenting the interim accounts to the quarterly meeting of the Otago and Southland Health Camp Central Council at Dunedin. The council agreed that to meet these increased costs it would be necessary to increase the charge levied on district executives for children sent to the camp. The fact that the council would in the near future be faced with heavier expenditure for maintenance and equipment and buildings, which were now several years old, was discussed, and it was agreed that steps must be taken to'raise a maintenance fund. A suggestion from the Dunedin Committee that a portion of the National War Memorial Fund be set aside to extend the work of health camps was approved as a remit to the Dominion Board. Tbe following delegates were present at the meeting:—Mrs Marshall Macdonald (Waikouaiti), Mrs E. V. McKeever and Mr M. Miller (Southland), Mrs A. T. Harris (South Otago), Messrs J. McDonald and N. H. Colquhoun (North Otago), Dr G. O. L. Dempster (medical officer of health), Dr Grace Stevenson (school medical officer), Mr E. J. Smith (chief postmaster), Mr J. H. Waigth (Roxburgh Committee), Mr C. E. Begg (Management Committee), and Mr J. J. Marlow (Dunedin). The Rev. J. Chisholm presided.

The chairman welcomed Dr Dempster and Mr Smith, new members of the council, and expressed tire gratitude of the council for help received from both the Health Department and the Post and Telegraph Department. The chairman reported having attended a meeting of the Dominion Advisory Board, held recently in Nelson, at which policy matters were discussed. The board, he said, had been pleased to receive an offer from the Red Cross Society to provide pyjamas and other articles of clothing for children in health camps. A grant had been received from the J. R. McKenzie Trust, and a portion of this was to be used to provide for the Roxburgh camp a set of Sir Walter Bullen’s pictures of native birds.

The Management Committee reported having visited the King George V Memorial Camp at Roxburgh twice recently. The grounds were in excellent order, and arrangements had been made to undertake necessary repairs to the buildings. The trustees had agreed to tar-seal the drive and tennis court, and build a retaini

ig wall where necessary. The committee had seen the present group of children, whose three months’ period was almost finished. They looked well and happy, and many had gained a great deal in weight. Mrs Macdonald said that since her Excellency Lady Newall had visited the Roxburgh camp some months ago she had been very much interested in the work being done, and she had been gratified to learn that the school teacher, Mr E. S. McFarlane, was being sent round the other health camps to assist in establishing the educational and recreational system that had been so successful at Roxburgh.