THE BLIND INSTITUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 143, 20 June 1927, Page 15

THE BLIND INSTITUTE.

NEW WORKSHOPS OPENED

GENEROUS PUBLIC SUPPORT

Presiding on Saturday afternoon at the opening of the new workshop for the Jubilee Institute for the Blind at Parnell, Mr. H. E. Vaile, the chairman of the trustees, paid a tribute to the loyal manner in which the public of Auckland and district had responded to the appeal for funds on behalf of the institution.

It was, he said, the aim of the trustees to make the institute self-supporting. The Government formerly subsidised them, but the major part of the subsidy had been withdrawn, and in the future the institute would have to stand on its own footing. The financial position was sound, however, and they had no fears for the future, provided, of course, that public support was continued. The speech of Sir Edwin Mitchelson, who performed the opening ceremony, was reported in Saturday's "Star." Sir Edwin was presented with a gold key by the architect, Mr. W. H. Gummer. Low Cost of Collection. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, a former Premier of the Dominion,, and father of Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, secretary of the institute, said it was a great tribute to the people of Auckland that when an appeal for £15,000 was made they contributed £17,861. Moreover the cost of collection was a little over £200, which compared very favourably with the high rate of collection entailed in efforts of a similar character in England and other countries. About 25 years ago it was proposed to remove the institute to some site well outside the city, but he thought it was a blessing they'had not done so. Blind people were, by reason of the afflic tion, cut off from their kind in one im portant respect, and human society more than solitude was what they needed. He understood that a concern had been started in Otago for the making of strawberry punnets. He himself had suggested that it would have been better to give the contract to the institute. Until now, however, the facilities and machinery available had not been sufficient, but now that they had a thoroughly up-to-date workshop he was sure they would get Rome useful contracts of that kind.

Amongst those present at the opening ceremony were Lady Lockhart, Canon James, Father Brennan, Mr. and Mrs. N. A. Nathan, Mr. N. T. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. H. Xolan, Mr. A. J. Hutchinson, Mr. C. J. Tunks, Mrs. McDonald, and Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson. Mr. Donaldson is Mayor of Newmarket, and a tribute was paid by Sir Thomas Mackenzie to his long and assiduous work on behalf of the institute.