SHORT OF STAFF

Chronicle (Levin), 29 April 1946, Page 2

SHORT OF STAFF

. _• ■ » — : — - ^ . — — • , , *: '■ OTAKI HEALTH CAMP CARRIES '' .- ON Though recently threatened with a closure ' beeause- of difficulty in securing suihcient staif to attend to the children in the camp, the -health •camp at Otaki continues its excellent work. After a six w.eeks' sojourn, one group of children was sent home on April 14; the next day tlie camp was again full with 114 children. These were not all newcomers, several of the previous group having been retained for further treatment on the advice of the medical officer, Dr. Sarah Mulholland. Among the newcomers were children from Wellington, Hawke's Bay, the Manawatu, Wairarapa, Taranaki and Wanganui. Good returns from the sale of "Peter Fan" health stamps have placed the finances of the Otaki health camp in a satisfactory position. • A' visit to the camp was made last week by Dr. H. E. Gibbs, sen., chairman of the management committee. After inspecting the.ground surrounding the camp,' Dr * Gibbs said he favoured an extension of tree-planting operations this winter in order to secure further protective shelter for the camp. The sfiortage of stalf was emphasised by Dr. Gibbs. Continual difficulty had been experienced during the past year in securing sufficient domestic aids to run the camp, said Dr. Gibbs, and the shortage still existed. The conditions of employment were good, and it was the desire of the committee that the institution be fully staffed.