HEALTH CAMPS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20721, 7 May 1937, Page 13

HEALTH CAMPS

NATIONAL MEMORIAL FUND PUBLIC MEETING IN TIMARU A public meeting was held in the Municipal Chambers last evening for the purpose of considering ways and means of augmenting the fund being raised to establish permanent children’s health camps, as a memorial to the late King George V. The Mayor (Mr P. C. Vinnell) said that the meeting had been called with a view to making some effort to make Timaru’s contribution to the King George V. Memorial Fund larger than it was. The Council had contributed £25, and the total of the fund at the moment was £B2. When they compared that with what had baen subscribed in other centres, it could not be said that Timaru had done very well. The object was a very worthy one, both from the point of view of the establishment of children’s health camps and also to honour the memory of the late King George V. There were many citizens who felt that some greater effort shotild be made, and it was as a result of representations made to him that he had called the meeting. Any effort that was made would not clash with the South Canterbury health camp scheme. He sincerely felt that something could be done to place Timaru on the map. Mr G. D. Virtue said that the object of the meeting was very laudable, but there were so many other things on at the moment that all they could do would be to set up a committe. to organise. Purpose Not Realised Mr W. Thoma. 1 ? said he felt that a great number of people did not realise what was meant by health camps. He thought (it- was far better to erect a memorial of the type suggested than a statue, as was done in the case of Queen Victoria. There were some health camps already in existence in New Zealand. There was one in Auckland for children ’ho did not enjoy good health, and splendid work was being done there. There were camps also at Raglan, Wanganui and Otaki. If Tlmaru did not subscribe then they could not expect to get a camp. Mr Thcmas expressed a doubt as to whether the Council had given a good enough lead in contributing £25 The Mayor said that the feeling of the Council usually reflected re feeling of the public. If some enthusiasm was shown, then the Council might do more. He thought they should set i o a committee to undertake a personal canvass which might bring results. Mr S. G. McClelland said he thought that the Coronation festivities over-shadowed the memorial appeal. He instanced an idea to help a hospital, which was a car decorated with flowers, and bore the sign “Support Your Hospital, Throw Your Monev on the Flowers.” Something similar could be done on Coronation Day in connection with the memorial fund. Council Should Give Lead Mr B. L. Blodorn said that he did not think the meeting could come to any conclusion other than to agree that the Council should do more than it had done. He did not desire to criticise the Council, but it was only in the last week or so that they had had brought home to them the desire of many local bodies throughout the country to contribute. He suggested that the meeting should recommend the Council to contribute liberally, and they could then go to private citizens for contributions. If the Council and other local bodies contributed more liberally then they would have laid the foundation of a good response from Timaru. Mr A. J. Allport suggested that it might be better to form a committee, and that committee could appoint -a deputation to wait on the Council and other local bodies. Mr Virtue said he felt that the suggestion made by Mr Blodorn was practicable. The attendance that night was certainly not large, but it was a representative one. He thought the Council might give a lead with a substantial donation, and they would then be in a position to approach other local bodies. The Mayor said that he favoured the idea outlined by Mr Blodorn, and if thought desirable the meeting could name a sum which the Council might contribute. Mr McClelland said that on this occasion he would support Mr Blodorn, although as a rule he did not approve of the Council contributing to various things in view of the present rating system, which he considered inequitable. Mr P. Ruston said that he agreed with Mr Thomas that the public did r.ot realise what the health camp movement was. There was a definite need in South Canterbury for a camp where children could be sent for treatment. The summer camp system was all right up io a point, but they were limited in time, and the facilities were totally inadequate. It would be safe to say that 10 per cent, of the children gave evidence of the need of further attention and this was a contradiction of the opinion of many that the summer camp was all that was needed. He felt sure that if the people of Timaru and South Canterbury realised that there was a need, then they would see to it that there was both a permanent and a summer camp, the latter to act as a kind of filter. The present appeal was an opportunity for the public to help the children who did not have the foundation of good health. ’ Wide Appeal Mr H. Miller said the attendance indicated that there was some possibility of something being done. The object of the present appeal was to form a memorial to the late King George V. and the form of the memorial they knew was one that he would have approved because he took a very active interest in the health of the children. He thought that the suggestion made by Mr 3 lodorn was a good one, but aa did not think the matter should end there. The sports bodies and other organisations would probably agree to hold functions, and if they organised he was sure that Timaru could make a handsome donation. In reply to Mr Thomas as to what he thought the Council should give, the Mayor said he felt that it should

be the duty of the ratepayers is a whole to pay, and from that poll t of view it might be better to make the contribution through the rates. Mr McClelland: This is a South Canterbury appeal. The Mayor: No, it is a Timaru appeal. Mr Ruston added that the proposal was to set up four camps at a cost of between £30.000 and £40,000 for each camp. From this it would be seen that a great deal of money would be necessary to put the scheme into operation. Mr Blodorn moved along the lines of his earlier suggestion that the Council should give a lead, and the motion was carried. Mr Virtue moved that a committee be set up, but Mr Blodorn suggested that it might be better to let the Council handle the whole matter. Mr kJUler supported Mr Virtue, stating that he did not think the Council would be able to secure the wide interest that it was desirable should be secured, and for that commltttee being set up. It was agreed to set up a committee for the purpose of furthering the proposal. Messrs H. Miller, P. Ruston, W. Thomas, F. I. Washbourn and the Rev. J. Milburn Stewart were elected the committee to go into the matter.