The Christmas Seal

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 23, 20 December 1929, Page 8

The Christmas Seal

A Deserving Cause N appeal was recently broadcast ~ from the New Zealand stations giving full details of the Christmas Seal and of ‘the splendid work it is hoped to accomplish should the public of New Zealand prove generous in their response to this deserving cause. Details of the scheme were given by the secretary of the G.P.O., Wellington, who said that the "Christmas Seal" is now on sale at post offices throughout the Dominion. Bach stamp, which costs 2d., has a postage value of 4d. and a charity value of 1d. The purchasing of the combined stamp is entirely voluntary. It is proposed that the proceeds of the appeal in the first instance shall be devoted to the establishment in selected sites in the Dominion of ‘health camps for undernourished and debilitated children, or of children who have been "contacts" with cases of tuberculosis in their own homes. These health camps will be under medical supervision, and adequate nursing assistance will be provided. The secret of the success of the | Charity stamp scheme lies in the fact that no one, however poor, nee. forgo the satisfaction of subscribing his mite to the good cause. It is understood from the Health Department that many children who are © contacts of tuberculosis in their own\_.. homes and who ultimately contract and die of the disease would be spar ed if at the time of contact and before the disease developed they were removed for a time to a health camp in the country. In all measures taken for the welfare of such children lack of financial resources becomes evident. There is no disease where good nutri-

tion is more imperative from the preventive as well as the curative aspect than tuberculosis; but where this disease 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 be done by a simple regime of ade‘quate rest, fresh air, sunshine and proper feeding. x It is believed that most people wijl welcome the opportunity of assisting in some small way towards brightening the lives and improving the health of the children who it is proposed should benefit. The outgoing in the ease of each individual giver will be a comparatively small sum; but, if each person contributes, the aggrégate result for the Dominion as a whole will be a substantial sum of money. The Charity stamp scheme of raising funds for deserving causes has proved 4a success in other countries, and there is no reason why it should not prove a success in New Zealand, It has been in operation for 21 years in. the United States of America; and the amount raised in a recent effort in that country was over one million pounds. Pre- / vehtion is better than cure; and the’ taking of preventive measures against tuberculosis will prove beneficial not only to many: individual New Zealand homes, but to the Domihion as a whole. JN connection with the commencement of the Christmas Seal campaign in New Zealand, the Hon. A. J.

\ Stallworthy, Minister of Health, has requested the publication of the fol--Jowing appeal:-"On December 11 we launched our Christmas Seal campaign to stamp out tuberculosis, The Seals are now obtainable at all post offices thrqughout the Dominion.-. In _the fight against incipient tuberculosis childhood: is the period to which our attention must be particularly directed. It is appropriate that the "first claim: upon funds raised by the in-. augural Christmas Seal should be: the children’s health camp,.movement, It is hoped that the success achieved will © be such as to enable a large extension of these camps throughout the Domin- . ion. The money thus invested will bring a national return in the added vigour and freedom from disease . of the children concerned, and in addion will afford them throughout: life | series of healthful happy memories. — "Bvery portion of New Zealand will benefit. There will -be co-operation with existing local institutions. I confidently appeal to all. generous-hearted . fellow-citizens over the holiday period to put a Christmas Seal on every letter posted. Whenever we buy a postage stamp let this be our kindly | thought, ‘A penny for health.’ Thus in the true spirit of Christmastide we can show our practical sympathy with thousands of sufferers, our love for hundreds of boys and girls, and help forward a great nation-wide health _ campaign."