THE PUBLIC EYESIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 120, 21 May 1917, Page 2

THE PUBLIC EYESIGHT.

— » EXPEET OPTICAL MECHANIC. AN EMPLOYER'S APPEAL. According to an appeal case that came before the First Auckland Military Service Board to-day the eyesight of the public is a most serious factor to the community. George Read, optician, of Karangahape Road, appealed for the retention of Win. P. Hodginson, expert mechanical optician, of Grey Lynn, on the grounds of undue hardship, contrary to the public interest. MAX IN THE CASE. Hodginson said be worked on prescriptions, and made lenses for glasses, which was expert work. He had volunteered some time ago. He had a brother killed iff" action, one in France, one in the Navy, and another in the war. He had a sister in the Woolwich arsenal, two nursing in France, and the husbands of his two married sisteTs were in France. Witness went on to state that it took four years o become an expert optician mechanic, but he had 'been six years at the work. Mr. Irvine's man died about eighteen months ago and he bad not been able to replace him. Since then to an extent extra work had fallen on him. Mr. Read was working at full pressure. If he had to go, people would have to either go without glasses or wait a considerable time for them. Expert opticians were very scarce in New Zealand. To Major Oonlan: He was passed as fit, hut did not get away owing to family illness. There were only three opticians in Auckland who did similar work. Lf he were taken he did not know how his firm could got'on. Other firms could not cope with the business in Auckland supplying glasses. It was not possible to get expert mechanical Opticians in other centres. Witness had an apprentice, for three years and admit The latter could not carry on witness work at present, because lie could not do the fitting. Major Conlan said that this was o case where he would like to hear the evidence of the public, which was sup posed to suffer if Hodginson was taken MEDICAL TESTIMONY. Dr. .1. C. Pabst. specialist in opthalmu work for 13 years, said he knew .Mr Read, who had a large business, lit knew of Mr. Hodginson. who from tin work he would class as an expert optica mechanic. Some of the lenses were vert complicated and required careful grind ing by an expert man. These were com monly prescribed fo r patients. Mr. Kea< had very up-to-date machinery foi glasses, and there were very few lirmi having it. The eyes of the public wen more important than. say. teeth. 1 patients had to wait tor importo glasses it would be inconvenient and dis tressful to them. There were not suffi eient experts in Auckland to carry oi the work sufficiently if Hodginson went THE APPELLANT'S STORY. George Read, -who 6aid he had been V. years in the business, gave evidence. Thi boy in h is employ was about IS years He" could not do the fine work Hodgin son did. The boy was clever and good but absolute reliance could not b< placed upon him yet. The maehiner; appellant had cost about £350. Mr Irvine and Mr. Barry had similar plants He could not say what Mr. Peacock did The war had hnd a great effect upon thi importation of compound lenses, whicl now only came from America in drib: and drabs. Lenses were not now ob tamable from France. Chairman: How many of the publii ■would go ■blind if you closed down. — .* good many, quite 50 per cent, anyhow Most of our work is expert. Appellant then explained at lengtl the natnre of the work lie did, anc showed the Hoard samples. He said i 1 would be impossible to replace Hodgin son. Major Conlan said he would like t< hear the other side of the question. Ht could see how the question of producinf would be a public hardship, but con sidered that it -was not so in this ease If exemption was granted it would pre judice the authorities in getting men This was a case where a small proportion of the public required attention tr the eyesight, which work might be done by other opticians, if necessary. The Board adjourned the case til Friday.