OTAKI HEALTH CAMP

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 83, 5 October 1938, Page 10

OTAKI HEALTH CAMP

PAST YEAR REVIEWED

DEBILITATED CHM.DRE*

Nobody could fail to be impressed by the work being carried out by the camp at Otaki, stated the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), who presided at the annual meeting of the Wellington Children's Health Camp Association last night.

Mr. Hislop referred to the King George V Memorial Fund appeal during the " year for the . purpose of establishing permanent health 'camps. As a result of the success of the appeal they could now look forward to seeing established in New Zealand health camps in the best possible form. The Otaki Health Camp would still be carried on, however; its usefulness had in no way been overshadowed by the effort for the provision .of national camps. i . -

The annual report of the association (a summary of which has appeared in "The Post") pointed out that there appeared to be a mistaken idea that part of the money from the King George V Memorial Appeal was for the maintenance of children in health camps. That was not so;, the. money, was for the establishment of^permanent health camps. Dr. H. E. Gibbs, chairman" of the executive, thanked the Mayor for Kis continued interest in^ ths u association, and paid tribute to thi iyprk of the secretary (Mr. C.Meachen)fthe matron and staff of the camp. During the six. years the camp had been in operation nearly 3000 children had been admitted, and the average stay in camp for each child had been six weeks. A sum of £15,000 had been expended on maintenance, which, worked put at 17s 6d weekly for each child. v '

The report of the " medical officer stated that the camp continued to plsy an important part in re-establishing the health of debilitated children. The more urgent cases could now be admitted without undue delay. The report referred to the importance of parental co-operation after . dischargefrom the camp. In this connection steps had been taken to ensure a Continuance of health principles in, the home. ' '

The following officers were elected:—Patron, the Minister of. Health; president, the Maybi" of Wellington (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop); vice-president, Mr. Byron Brown;, hon. vice-presidents, . Lady ' Myers, Lady Elliott, the Mayor of Otaki, Mrs. Knox Gilnier, Mr. H, S. Quigley, Lady Buckletbn, Mts. P. Fraser, the Mayoress of Wellington, Mr. G. McNamara, Mr. C, O. Morse, Lady Gray, Dr. Agnes Bennett, Mr. H. E. Gibbs, Mrs. H. Lawry, Mrs. Henry Hall, Mrs. J. P. Firth, Mrs. Colin Holmes, Dr. Helen Bakewell, Mr. C. M. Luke, the Mayor of; Hastings; hon. medical advisers; Sir James Elliott, Dr. H. Short, Dr; W.S.Kobertson, Dr. Alexander Gillies, Dr. T. E. Corkill, 'Dr. Montgomery' Spencer; "Wellington district • executive, Miss M. Magill (Eastbourne), Mr. M. S. Dempsey (Headmasters' Association), Mr. E. R. Myers. (Paekakariki and Paraparaumu), Mr. C. Pinnock ~ (Johnsonville), Mr. A. R.Hutchings) (Health Department) , Colonel A. Cowles' (Wellington •Returned Soldiers' Association)', Dr.; H. E. Gibbs (Wellington Rotary Club),: Mr. C. H. Nicholls (Wellihgtbn Eaucatiph Board), Mr. P. Robertson (Upper Hutt), Mrs. Jphn Mitchell^ (Lower HuttXi; Mrs! Hendry (Porirua and Red -Cross Society) > Mr. : J. L,Goldsmith ■(Wellington ), Mr. ißyroiiv:,Brown! ,'((Qtaki : | and Waikanae'),?MiW J, G. Park:(Plimmetv ton ;and;:SJiducationalA Kistituite),. Dfl Agibes:^Be^fael;t;' Tpetdne^^j^^isJ^Rpbertsdn/.(Cai|eHßn, Fea&erlpi^^GfeSiv

town, Eketahuna, Martinborough, and Masterton), Mr. E. Partridge (Education Department)-, Dr. M. Champtaloup (District Health Office); hon. auditor, Mi\ Harold H./Miller; hon, solicitor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop.