WANGANUI HEALTH CAMP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 196, 20 August 1931, Page 6

WANGANUI HEALTH CAMP

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE WILL IT BE AVAILABLE? A DEPUTATION FOR WELLINGTON. At present there is no definite information as to whether the newly established health camp at Castlecliff, which has been made possible through the generous gift of land made by Dr. A. H. E. Wall, will participate in funds raised by the Government. There was an apprehensive note to discussion in this regard at yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Education Board. The secretary (Air W. H. Swanger) said that some time ago he had writ ten the Department asking that the Wanganui camp be included in the al location of funds collected under the Christmas Seal appeal. Since then he had gathered from newspaper reports that that money had been allocated to Otaki and had again written the Department advancing Wanganui’s claims, The reply was to the effect that the funds had been distributed and that, no doubt, Wanganui would be remembered when the next Christmas Seal appeal was made.

Air J. K. Hornblow said that he had been informed by the Minister of Health that the Otaki camp was one of a chain of camps that were to be established throughout the island. He was of opinion that the delay in giving publicity to Dr. Wall’s gift had resulted in Wanganui being overlooked.

The secretary: But the Department was officially advised that the land had been given. “It is a jolly shame that Wanganui, the district that was the first to get health camps going, snould be shut out,” said the chairman (Air W. A. Collins), paying a tribute to the enthusiasm and practical ability of Dr. Gunn in creating the movement. “There will be something done at Castlceliff. I know what I am talking about when I say that. The Rotary Club has got behind this movement and will raise Cain if something is not done.” “I don’t think the position is hopeless,” said Air Hornblow. “I think that if a comprehensive scheme is prepared and wo show the Department of Health what has been done and what it is intended to do, Wanganui will get its share. We can stress the valuable nature of the site and the fact that it is near a bigger centre of population. I maintain that you must get your quota. This money was not raised for Otaki only, but for the Dominion.”

The speaker moved that the chairman and secretary, supported by Board members, wait on the 7*inistcr with a detailed plan of the Wanganui scheme. Messrs W. Adams, E. F. Hemingway and A. 8. Coleman supported the motion and the chairman stressed the fact that the camp proposed was to be of a permanent nature and not of the intermittent variety. Extensive tree planting had been carried out already. The Board’s architect (Air E. R. Hodge) reported that levelling work in preparation for the erection of buildings was in hand. The motion to send a deputation to Wellington was supported by a unanimous Board.