MEMORIAL FUND

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 426, 6 May 1937, Page 2

MEMORIAL FUND

SUNSHINE CAMPS Appeal To Women Of New Zealand Aii appeal to the women of New Zealand to support the King George the Fifth National Memorial Fund', which is to provide children’s permanent Health Camps, was made by Mrs P. Fraser, wife of the Acting Prime Minister, in a Press interview. Mrs Fraser, who has for many yean taken a leading part in so-cu 1 welfare acKivities, has sewed on important committees and commissions which have investigate! aspects of public health, and, as a member of the Wellington Hospital Bop rd for ten years, gained a deep insight into the general conditions of her fellow citizens. ‘‘ln giving my support to the Fund, I wish to appeal pr-.-cipally to T.e worn n,” said Mrs Frat er. “.in, women of New Zeal:; nd, either through their organisations or individually; have a proud record of social achievement, and 1 know they will never relax their effor s until every man, woman and child has the means Gf gaining full health and happiness. “At present we are in the midst of’an appeal which is probably unique. IWe are about to perpetuate the memory of a man who ruled over the British. Commonwealth of Nations for over twenty_five years, and who by his deep and abiding concern for all 1 who are interested in human welfare. I Especially was the late King ever [ mindful of the children, and, in raising this fund which is to establish permanent health camps in his memory, we are not only paying tribute to a beloved monarch, but also ensuring a permanent extension of one ol the finest- health movements this country has ever known. As Mr Forbes has stated, the health camp movement is a natural sequel to the work of the Plunket Society. The health of many of our children, after 'they have passed through the Plunket years, is an ever present and sometimes an urgent problem, and I am sure that it is the earnest wish ofi all our women that the health camp system should be extensive enough to provide facilities for all children who, through inherent weakness, malnutrition, or th© effects of illness, are in need of recuperative treatment. In many cases these children cannot obtain the /attention they require 'owing to the economic position of their parents. “The health camp movement aims at prevention rather than cure, and those of us who have visi'ed these camps realise fully their value in our system of public hearth. ‘‘We have seen how p simple routine, permitting of plentiful sunlight and’ fresh air, suitable exercise, work, and adequate rest converts under-nourished, listless, irritable children into robust, happy and alert young people. By providing health camps which will fulfil the requirements of our community, we will banish much of the suffering in our midst, and go a long wiay towards the building up of a vigorous, virile race. ‘ The memorial which is being raised combines a sentiment of grateful remembrance for our late King with a sense of welfare for the future Need I say any more to the women of New - Zealand whose loypity and whose application to the problems of human happiness have never faltered.”