REOPENING OF HEALTH CAMP URGED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 296, 16 December 1941, Page 4

REOPENING OF HEALTH CAMP URGED

MEETING IN WANGANUI WIDE DISTRICT COMMITTEE SUGGESTED A decision to bring about the opening of the Wanganui Health Camp was reached at a meeting held in Wanganui yesterday afternoon. Mr. '[Hope Gibbons presided. Mr. C. (Meachen, secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Health Camps. Wellington, was present and addressed the gathering, and in the course of h.s remarks cleared up any misunderstandings which had previously existed. I He said that the body he represented was most anxious that the ( Health Camp in Wanganui should be opened as soon as it was convenient. 'Regarding finance, he said he understood that there was a surplus of £2OO in the Wanganui accounts. The Central Council in Wellington would give £lOO towards assisting in the opening of the camp, and the Wellington Health Camp Association was prepared to make a donation of £lO9 There would thus be £4OO which would keep the camp for approximately 18 weeks. The Wanganui ibody would have to raise £l5O, which would carry a subsidy of £2 for £l. which would bring the amount up to about £7uo.

Mr. Meachen expressed appreciation of what had been accomplished in Wanganui for the Health Camp (movement, but the time had now arjrived when the organisation in Wan- ! ganui should lx* brought into line with organisations in other parts of New Zealand. He outlined the work of ceYitral councils in the four icentres of the Dominion, and the co--operation which existed between them and lhe district bodies in the differ'ent area. He suggested that the jWanganui organisation should era- , brace the w hole of the district and i local areas would send representatives to the Wanganui executive.

I Regarding ways of raising funds, he said there was the sale of Health ;Stamps, but pointed out that in Wellington a good deal of revenue was . raised by sending envelopes to chilidren in the schools, who contributed small accounts for Health Camp funds |three times a year. The money collected was handea to the Wellington (Education Board, who handed a ’cheque on to the Health Camp authorities there. I’hat scheme had (been in operation in Wellington since '1932. It was also carried on in the (Hawke’s Bay Education district. Before it was tried here, the consent of the Wanganui Education Board would have to be obtained.

I Another way of raising funds would be to ask parents io contribute something towards the payment of a child at the Health Camp. Mr. Meachen said the organisation in Wanganui should resolve itself into an executive, to be known as the Wanganui District Health Camp Executive. This was agreed to. Mr. Hope Gibbons outlined what had been accomplished in Wanganui 'or the advancement of the Health Camp movement, and referred to the amount of money raised. In reply to a question. Mr. Meachen said the selection of children for the Health Camp should he led entirely tn the school medical officer and nurse.