HEALTH CAMP APPEAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 108, 8 May 1936, Page 11

HEALTH CAMP APPEAL

£l5OO TO BE RAISED ENTHUSIASTIC PUBLIC MEETING. STRONG COMMITTEE SET UP. Ways and means of raising money to finance the establishment of a children’s health camp on the Gonville sue which, when completed, will serve the needs of the district for many years, was considered at a large anl representative public meeting in the City Council Chambers last night. After thi objects of the proposal had been outlined, the meeting set up a large committee with power to add to its numbers. In the absence of the Mayor of Wanganui, Mr. Vv. J. Rogers, Mr. J. J. Scott presided. In a telegram expressing his apology for absence, Mr. Rogers forwarded his best wishes for a successful meeting and promised to do everything in his power to assist the health camp. The chairman said that Dr. Elizabeth Gunn had been described to him not only as a stalwart of the scheme but a pioneer of health camps in New Zealand. She had commenced the holding of camps at Turakina in 1919 and he understood that under that scheme more than 2000 children had benefited physically. Her efforts had stimulated activity in other parts of the Dominion and to-day Wanganui was not alone. The Government had recognised the value of the camps and had promoted the sale of health stamps. Over £19,000 had been raised by this means and over £3OO had been allotted to Wanganui. “An excellent site at Gonville has been donated by a generous citizens whose name, for obvious reasons, I cannot mention,” said Mr. Scott. The old kiosk at Castlecliff was to be transferred to the Gonville site and would provide facilities for many years to come. “Wanganui City and district is fortunate in possessing an ideal site cf approximately 10 acres for the health camp,” said Mr. A. G. Bignell. “The chairman has mentioned that he cannot divulge the name of the generous benefactor. He was Mr. Hope Gibbons. The property is vested in local trustees who will control and administer the estate and funds for the benefit of the children requiring treatment. The project already has the approval of the Health Department, which has inspected the site and approved of the buildings and improvements. “The land is ample for all requirements and admirably suited for the purposes of a health camp. The large level area is an elevated site with wellgrown shelter trees on three sides. The site is convenient to the trams and is within easy reach of the Gonville and Tawhero Schools and the Gonville baths. The city water supply and drainage are available. “There is a good six-roomed house on the property suitable for either staff or caretaker. Health camp buildings will consist of the Castlecliff Kiosk, to be removed and re-erected on the new site. This building, with little alteration, will meet all requirements and is eminently suited for the purpose intended. The building is sound and in a good state of preserva-

tion. A contract has been let for the work of removal and re-erection from plans prepared by Mr. R. G. Taiboys. In this connection, it may be mentioned that the services of the trustees, architect and other helpers are entirely free and voluntary. Our object to-night is to devise the best means to make an appeal to the public for necessary funds to carry out to a successful issue a most worthy object.” Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, medical officer to the Wanganui Education Board, gave a resume of the work of organising and conducting the health camps at Turakina during the years 1919-30. The chairman had said that more than 2000 children had passed through the camps, but the actual number was something in the vicinity of 900. With the exception of five children who were suffering from acute troubles, every child had improved as a result of the camps. Since the introduction of medical inspection of schools, the health of the children had improved and to-day much greater interest was being taken in the welfare of children; children were better cared for, clothed and fed. Malnutrition, said Dr. Gunn, was not on the increase in. Wanganui and was considerably less prevalent than it was several years ago. Children at schools where half a pint of milk was given to them daily had shown an improved physical condition and a great increase in weight. She regretted that it was impossible for every child to be given a daily glass of milk. Dr. Gunn said that she found from her camp experiences that children had improved even in wet weather. The companionship of the camps was a wonderful thing for the children and she hoped that when a camp was established it would open to both boys and girls. It was a good education for them to work and be together. An important point was that the camp should be held in beautiful surroundings. As malnutrition was getting les?, some people might ask if there was any need for a camp. There were still plenty of children suffering frjm malnutrition and if they were treated under camp conditions they could be considerably improved in health. There were children who were recovering from small operations to whom the camp would also be of great benefit in their convalescence. Many children, after recovering from infectious diseases were often sent back to school too soon and suffered a breakdown, and to ihem, too, the camp life would be beneficial. There were also many children throughout the district suffering from heart diseases, and it would be wonderful to give them a little brightness. Mr. N. G. Boulton, secretary of the Wanganui Education Board, apologised for the absence of the c-hairmnn. M". E. F. Hemingway. Wanganui, he said, had raised £335 for the health st&mp campaign and, after the post office expenses had been deducted. £319 had been handed over for the camp in Wan ganui. The Wanganui collection war the ninth highest in the Dominion and he thanked the committee for the valuable work it had done. The money was earmarked for expenditure on the children and could not he utilised in connection with the buildings. Through the generosity of the Wanganui Rotary Club, he said, the tea kiosk at Castlecliff had been purchased for the camp. It would have to be removed to the Gonville site and this would entail an expenditure of about £5OO. When it was re-erected on its new site a number of alterations involving an expenditure conservatively estimated at £lOO would be necessarv. The furnishing of the building would

cost another £5OO. Good work had been carried out on the site by relief workers, the Wanganui City Council, the Waitotara County Council, the Wanganui County Council, and the Wanganui Education Board. As a good start toward the £lOOO required, said Mr. Boulton, Mr. and Mrs. Hope Gibbons had generously promised £lOO toward the cost of furnishing the building. The camp site had been inspected by the Director-General of Health and Dr. Ada Patterson, chief medical inspector of schools, and had expressed their satisfaction that it was an ideal site An application was to be made to the Government for assistance, aid having been given to the Otaki health camp in the form of a building. Even if only 20 children were accommodated in the camp the first year it would be well worth while. Mr. J. Siddells, representing the City Council, said that a health camp was an excellent thing and was long overdue in Wanganui. Provided that the appeal was efficiently organised, there should be no difficulty in raising the required amount in Wanganui. He was prepared to give his assistance in any way in the raising of funds. Mr. A. Douglass said that Wanganui was fortunate in having a hard-work-ing trust looking after the Interests of the camp. The trust had done such a tremendous amount of good work and given such a lead that people wouid be ashamed if they failed to raise the required £lOOO. He moved that a strong committee should be set up to iai=e £lOOO to establish a health camp. The motion was seconded by Mr. R. L. Thompson. Mr. Hope Gibbons mentioned that Dr. Elizabeth Gunn and Dr. Ada Patterson had waited on the Wanganui Hospital Board, which had agreed to lend its co-operation. The board was of the opinion that the scheme was a very good one. An amendment that the £l5OO should be raised was moved by Pastor G. F. Fret well, and was carried. The following committee was set up: Messrs. A. R. Donaldson, R. G. Talbovs, J. Stone, J. J. Scott, E. M. Silk, L. W. Hogben, J. C. Richardson. Pastor Fretwell, S. G. Goodey, W. J. Gilberd, J. Siddclls. Hope Gibbons. D. McGregor, AV. G. Broderick, W. D. Williams, A. G, Bignell, M. Betbwaite, and Mesdamcs J. C. Wickham, H. James, J. Brine, A. 11. McLean, McPhail, and Archibald, and Dr. Elizabeth Gunn. The committee had power to add. At a subsequent meeting of the committee, Mr. A. G. Bignell was elected chairman and Mr. G. N. Boulton secretary.