HEALTH CAMPS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19622, 17 October 1933, Page 9

HEALTH CAMPS

PROPOSAL DISCUSSED BY ROTARY ADDRESS BY DR. BAKER McLAGLEN A proposal to institute a health camp for under nourished children in South Canterbury which was put forward at a recent meeting of the Timaru Rotary Club was advanced a further step at the Club’s luncheon yesterday, when additional information was supplied by Dr E. Baker McLaglen, of the Schools Medical Service. Rotarian B. E. H. Tripp presided and by special invitation Mrs T. E. Holdgate and Miss K. Lovell Smith, representing the Y.W.C.A., the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite) and Mr W. G. Irwin, representing the Y.M.C.A. also were present. Dr McLaglen outlined the scheme, which she said was a world wide one and which is financed by the sale of health stamps, and referred to the success achieved at other health camps in the North Island. She did not think a camp was needed in Timaru to the same extent as in some other centres, but at the same time there were many children tvho would benefit by a term in camp. In two Timaru State schools she had just visited she had picked out 30 boys who needed 3 holiday in a camp and plenty of good food. They were mostly children of relief workers who were under nourished and, while they had no diagnosible disease, they were susceptible to tuiurculosis in their present condition. The Mayor expressed his thanks for the invitation to be present and said he was sure the Rotary Club, the Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A. and the Borough Council would be able to co-operate in forming a Sunshine League in Timaru. The main thing to consider was finance, and at present he did not know whether the revenue derived from the sale of stamps would be sufficient. If, as had been suggested, a camp for the whole of the South Island were formed in South Canterbury it would be for the centres to decide how the project was to he financed.

In answer to a question, Dr McLaglen said that it was not proposed to select children only from the State schools, but children from any school and of any denomination who were considered to be in need of treatment could be selected for the camp. It would not be advisable to fix a quota from each school but to select the deserving cases from all the schools. The selection could be done by the doctors of Timaru or. if desired, she herself would be willing to assist. In proposing a vote of thanks to the speaker, Dr L. S. Talbot said that the Rotary Club was willing to stand behind any scheme for the good of the community, but the project would have to be Initiated by the community Itself. If the Mayor was prepared to take any active steps In the matter he could be assured that the Rotary Club would be only too willing to do all it could to assist.

Mrs Holdgate also expressed appreciation of the invitation to be present and said that the Y.W.C.A. would also co-operate in making the health camp scheme a success.