HEALTH CAMPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 224, 20 September 1940, Page 3

HEALTH CAMPS.

DECIDED KNOCK-BACK SCHEME FOR AUCKLAND. "The children's health camp scheme has had a decided knock-back owing to the rush going on at the present time to construct military camps and aeroH«?n me w ?r aW the Minist « of Health, the lion H. r. Armstrong, when asked today to comment upon the Auckland poeiuon. The camp movement was well under way when the war commenced but other more urgeait problems presented themselves immediately and had to be attended to," he continued. "There is no reason why we ehould not continue our plans as far as possible by se-curin* the necessary land, and that is the rea = - eon why I decided to pay a visit to Howick to-day to inspect a large area there adjacent to a beach which is considered to be most suitable for a permanent camp." The Minister said that tenders were to be called for the buildings necessary for the Otago camp at Roxburgh. Already there were camps at Waugauui and Otaki with accommodation for a large number of children. "I feel that Auckland with its large population ehould have a camp at the earliest moment," he said. "When that will be it is difficult to forecast.

"The Waiouru military camp has taken a great deal of labour and material and it is not yet finished, and everywhere there is a demand for additional military accommodation, while more hospital accommodation is also needed everywhere. All these requirements are urgent and absorb all the available labour and building material.

Rural Housing. "Then there is the rural housing scheme, which has created a big demand for the construction of dwellings for farm workers, and this brings about competition for timber and other materials. I understand, however, that VVaiouru camp will soon be finished, which should release a large number of skilled men. The Government ia particularly anxious to push the rural housing scheme along, and that is why the health camps scheme has had to wait. The delay has nothing to do with finance, there being ample funds to proceed with the plans. A fairly large sum came from the sale of health stamps last year, the iund being credited with £2000 from that source, and later on the stamps will again be issued."

Mr. Armstrong said that before coming to any decision in respect to Howick he had ■to be convinced that the site was suitable, and as it was close to a beach he had to make sure that it was safe for the tiny tote, who naturally wQuld want to be in the water during the hot summer weather. The camp on the Otaki beach was eminently suitable for the purpose for which it was established, and there were children there throughout the year. Proposals were now under consideration for the erection of a school on the site.