BOON FOR THE KIDDIES

Evening Star, Issue 22146, 28 September 1935, Page 11

BOON FOR THE KIDDIES

VALUE »F HEALTH CAMPS HOW CITIZENS CAN HELP PURCHASE OF SPECIAL STAMPS The statement that if every man, woman, and child in Otago bought one health stamp the sum of £SOO would be available for distribution between the two children’s health camps near Dunedin was made yesterday afternoon by the mayor (the Dev. E. T. Cox;, when presiding over a citizens’ meeting which went into the question of organising this season’s health stamp campaign. ~ Now, hero is “ painless extraction/ if you like! It shows how much could be done by the public with very little individual sacrifice to help the children who are so greatly in. need ot the ideal holiday which the Otago health camps at Waikouaiti and Company Bay afford. But it is hoped that the source ol this very desirable camp fund will not be limited to the purchase of health stamps — a scheme into which the 1 ost and Telegraph Department has thrown itself with commendable enthusiasm. Public subscriptions of a more direct nature are also appealed for, and, as the organisers do not wish to trouble the same generous donors who have helped year after year, they trust that this time now names will be added to the list of contributors. That indefatigable worker for the cause, Mrs Marshall Macdonald who was at the meeting, intimated that if the response to the appeal wm good the Health Camp Association would be enabled, in the case of Waikouaiti, to increase the number of children selected for the holiday from 80 to 100. All in all, it appears that the good deed of helping in the campaign should not be left to “ the other person. MAYORAL SUPPORT. “ This meeting to-day has been called for the purpose of putting before the public of Dunedin and Otago the claims of the health camps organised in the vicinity of the city, and the opportunity afforded by the health stamp system of the Postal Department of raising funds by the utilisation of this postage to augment the amount available to assist this worthy object,” said the Mayor. “ We all know something of the value of these camps, two of which operate in our neighbourhood. There is that at Waikouaiti, for the benefit of children who need this open-air treatment. I wish to commend this camp to the notice of the public and to point out the fine work done by Mrs Marshall MacDonald and her staff. I have no doubt you will be given details of the physical improvement resulting from this treatment, as I understand that records are tabulated. ± “ This means a great thing to the growing generation, as each camper has to be Certified by the School Medical Department as defective in some physical capacity. Then, I would point out the wonderful work done at Company Bay by the Rev. L. B. Neale and his helpers for mothers and their children. This is to be a permanent camp, so that when funds are available it may operate right through the year. Here tired and run-down mothers can get rest and refreshment on the waterfront of our beautiful harbour. The settlement is ideal, being in the most sheltered area of the Peninsula and very easy of access. “ The next point to bo noted to-day is how wo can increase the sale of these stamps. It is one thing to introduce a matter to the public—it is another to organise an effective campaign. I trust that this meeting will offer some concrete proposals to the citizens to enable a full use of the opportunity being made.” KEEN POSTAL OFFICIALS. Mr J. Madden (chief, postmaster) gave his assurance of the full co-opera r tion of the officers throughout the Dominion, stating that, apart altogether from the actual sale of stamps, each postmaster was taking an active and sympathetic interest in the scheme. The stamps would be on sale from Monday, September 30, and would be available at every post office in New Zealand. In addition an attractive poster had been prepared urging the purchase of stamps, and this would be placed on view in prominent positions. A third effort would be a special health cover, which he urged the public to buy instead of the usual embossed envelopes. The department had been printing a special issue of stamps during the past four years-;- but, the response was felt to be "hardly as enthusiastic as it might have been. This year the department aimed at raising £IO,OOO by the aid of health stamps for health camp funds. He suggested thaf; a suitable slogan would be “ Buy health stamps for health camps.” WORTHINESS OF CAUSE. Mrs Marshall MaedAnald. said that an appeal for such a worthy cause must not be regarded as begging, and it should be reassuring for citizens to realise that the scheme was under proper control. Therefore she made no apologies for coming to Dunedin with a view to helping in the campaign for funds. They needed money for these camps, and she was pleased to say that a good start had been made that morning through the receipt of cheques for £3 3s and £5 ss. The camps were an essential part of the health service, and she felt that the burden of supporting them should not be allowed to rest upon the business section only. The speaker stressed the fact that there was a great need for work of the sort performed by the camps. She assured those present that if the support to the campaign was sufficiently generous they would increase the number taken at the Waikouaiti camp from 80 to 100. She paid a warm tribute to the support which had been rendered by the Dunedin Savings Bank, which bad given a donation of £IOO for each of the last three years. The camp authorities could not continue to expect the business and farming community to give large supplies of food, meat, and fruit free of charge. _ ' Through the health stamp campaign the appeal for support would be extended to the whole of the community, and she felt sure that .the response would be generous once the objects ot the appeal became more widely known. Mrs Macdonald explained that the Otago Health Camp Association would co-operate with the health camp _ at Broad Bay in supporting the campaign and the proceeds would be shared between them. The speaker stated that just before she left Wellington the Minister of Health bad handed to her a cheque for £59 19s (3d, which represented the association’s share of the sale of stamps for two years. She felt that Dunedin was capable of better things than that, and that if the campaign was supported as it should bo the amount would be 1 greatly increased. | Mrs Macdonald added that, although I the association had fairly good equipment, there was need for still more.

The trustees of the fund were Mr John Jacobs (secretary of the Otago Hospital Board) and Mr Thomas, who was, until recently, a member of the Hospital Board staff. HOSPITAL BOARD ATTITUDE. The chairman of the Otago Hospital Board (Mr J. W. Dove) said that the board members were all favourably impressed with what had been done at the camp at Waikouaiti. It was a very valuable work which was being done there, and he was empowered by the board to say that it was prepared to make a donation of £5 ss. He was confident that the movement would appeal to the whole of the community, for it was their bounden duty to help those who could not help themselves. BUILDING HEALTHY CITIZENS. Mrs Macdonald referred to statements which had been made that the camps- should he taken over by the Government. She thought that such a move would be a mistake, for, under Government supervision, there would not bo the loyal service and devotion which was given by the voluntary girl workers. Mussolini organised camps for children with Government funds, but that was because he wanted to rear soldiers. What they aimed at in Now Zealand was to build healthy, happy citizens. The camps were entirely undenominational. GENERAL INFORMATION. The Mayor said that if every man, woman', and child in Dunedin bought one stamp each the sum so raised would be £375. If that effort was extended over the whole of the province the sum to be divided between the two camps would be £SOO. Dean Cruickshank emphasised the fact that the object of the meeting that day had the full support of the Christian churches, which would give all possible co-operation. An outline of the work conducted at the Central Mission camp at Broad Bay was given by Sister Lena, who indicated the different classes of children whom it was desired to help. In reply to Dean Cruickshank, Mrs Macdonald said that the children to be sent to the camps were selected by the school medical officers, with the restriction that those selected must be the children of the unemployed. OFFER FROM COLLECTORS. It was stated by Mr R. H. Steele that there was a firm inquiry for used health stamps, which Were sought by collectors. He had been in touch with a London firm which was willing to give up to Is per dozen for these

stamps. With the benefit of the exchange rate that would mean a return of Is 3d per dozen. The speaker offered to receive, clean, and forward stamps that were sent to him, and thus an additional return from the health stamps would be secured. Mr Steele later said that any fear of the market for these stamps becoming glutted could be set at rest, as he had ; just received a written offer to buy all ’ these stamps at a price of not less i (|Mn 6d per dozen.