JUBILEE INSTITUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 244, 15 October 1929, Page 21

JUBILEE INSTITUTE.

AN INQUIRY SUGGESTED.

[REPRESENTATION FOR THE

BLIND.

COMMITTEE'S FAVOURABLE

REPORT,

(By Telegraph.-Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Monday.

A favourable report was returned in the House of Representatives to-night by the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of Morton Aldis, of Auckland, praying for an Inquiry into the administration of the Jubilee Institute for the blind.' Mr. Munns, Government member for Roskill, said that, owing to the fact that people who subscribed to the upkeep of the institute were scattered throughout New Zealand, and so could not attend meetings, the same board of trn&tees were elected year after year, it was that a small committee might bo°set up so that a full inquiry might be made, with a view to deciding whether the unfortunate blmd inmates should have direct representation on the board. At present, said Mr. Munns, the blind people hr.d no representation. He suggested that a committee comprising Auckland members of Parliament might consider the whole question during the recess. "Blind inmates feel that their, interests are prejudiced because they have not got direct representation, on the board," said Mr. Munns. "They do not ask'that a blind person be appointed, but that someone who can see shall be placed on the board to represent them. If an inquiry is held it would give satisfaction, or at feast put an end to a grievance. Mr. Harris (Waiteinats.) paid a tribute to Mr. Alclis as a man who had spent a large part of his life striving to better the conditions of the unfortunate blind inmates. When an enthusiast of the Aldis type asked for an inquiry something should be done. Mr. Harris hoped an inquiry would be held so as to ascertain whether improvements could be effected. The committee's report, with a recommendation that the petition be recommended to the Government for favourable consideration, was adopted by the House without further debate.