CHARITY STAMPS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1930, Page 3

CHARITY STAMPS.

(To the Editor). Sir.—Again this year I wish to bring to your notice the effort which is being made by the Post and Telegraph Department and the Health Department, to raise a substantial sum of money to lie devoted to the prevention of tuberculosis within the Dominion. The money is to he raised by selling Charity stamps, which will lie placed on sale at Post Offices throughout the Dominion on Wednesday, the 29th October. The stamps, are to' he sold at 2cl each. Each stamp has a postage value of Id and a Charity value of Id. The stamps cannot, he used in payment of stamp duty. The stamp is similar to the one issued Inst year, the. alterations being the substitution of the words “Help promote health” for the words “Help stamp out tuberculosis” and, of course, the alteration of the year to 1930. included ip the design is a double cross, which is the international emblem of the campaign waged against tuberculosis An entirely new design was forwarded to London early this year for the purpose of having an engraved stamp reproduced from it; rut, unfortunately, owing to difficult' s experienced in reproduction, the printing plate could not reach New Zealand in time to em-hie stamps to he printed from >t for this year’s appeal. Hence it wax again necessary to have a stamp produced at the Government Printing Office, Wellington. The Charity stamp scheme was inaugurated in Denmark in 1904. and the story of its origin is so interesting that I again send you a' copy of a’ statement issued by the National Tuberculosis Association of New York. The secret of the success' of the Charity stamp scheme lies in the fact

that no one, however poor, need forgo the satisfaction of subscribing his mite to tile good cause. The outgoing in the case of each individual giver will lie a very small sum; but, if each person con tributes, the aggregate result for the Dominion as a whole will lie a substantial siini of money. The scheme offers a. unique opportunity for all to turn money into health : health for those little ones —frequently from poor homes—who have been in contact with, and are in danger of developing tuberculosis.

is believed that most people will welcome the opportunity of assisting in some small way towards brightening the lives and improving the health of the children, who it is proposed will use the stamps) on iffhf-Ugrfst a portion of their correspondence. • It is proposed that the- proceeds of the appeal in the first instance shall he devoted to the-establishing'through-out the Dominion of permanent bases ! ’or health camps for improving the health of ill-nourished and debilitated children and of children who are contacts with cases of tuberculosis in their own homes. It is .proposed to organise these camps in a satisfactory and businesslike way, with the co-operat-ion of local .communities'. The establishment and control of the camps, and the selection of children for admission, will he subject to the approval of the Director-General of Health. The funds available from last year’s campaign—-approximgtyjy £2,soo—arc not yet sufficient to cover the cost, of building the pioneer camp, lint as soon as these are sufficiently augmented the work will he put in hand. It is understood from the Health Department that many children who are contacts of tuberculosis in their own homes and who ultimately contact and die of the disease would l« spared if at the time of contact and

before the disease d velep'd they wqi’o removed for a time to a h.eal.di t amp in the country. In all measures Liken

for the welfare of such children lack of financial resources become evident. Than tuberculosis, there is no disease in respect of which good nutrition is more imperative from the preventive as well as the curative aspect; but where tuberculosis is associated with poverty good nurture, is impossible. For a large number of affected children, their main hope lies in removal from their present environment for a time at least. The results of health camps, already held have amply demonstrated what can he. done by a simple regime of adeq.uate rest, fresh air, sunshine aril proper feeding.

The Charity stamp scheme of raising funds for deserving causes has proved a success in other countries, and the support given last year indicates that it will prove a success in New Zealand. It has been in operation for 23 v'-ars in the United Statics of America; and the sum raised in a recent' effort in that country was over one million pounds. Prevention is better than cure; and the taking of preventive measures against tuberculosis will prove beneficial .not only to many

individual New Zealand homes, hut to the Dominion as a whole. Both the Health Department and my Department are grateful for the ready assistance given by you in connection with last year’s campaign ; and T feel confident, in view of the humanitarian aspect of the appeal, that on this occasion also the request that you contribute to its success by giving it the fullest publicity will not go unheeded. T am etc., G. McNAMARA. Secretary. General Post Office, AA 7 ellington. October 2utli.