HELPING THE BLIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 260, 2 November 1932, Page 5

HELPING THE BLIND.

REDUCTION IN INCOME. • ANNUAL PAIR NEXT MONTH. Generous support has been promised for the annual fair to be promoted to assist the funds of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind. A largely attended meeting of helpers yesterday formed a general committee to organise the fair, which will be held in the institute grounds on December 1, 2 and 3. The directory Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, stressed the necessity for marketing the goods made by blind workers. The real function of the institute was to relieve unemployment among the blind. The institute was doing ite best to make some return for public support, and by means of concerts bad raised £210 for the relief of distress. » Mr. A. J. Hutchinson, chairman of the board of trustees, said that nine years ago, when there were 76 inmates, income from public subscriptions and Government subsidy amounted to £6746, or £87 a head. This year, with inmates numbering 140, the revenue would be only £18 8/ a head. The blind workers were doing all they could to contribute towards their own support and sales of goods which had averaged £3054 nine years ago had averaged £10,335 for the past three years. The institute could not work on the reduced income, Many of ithe workers were elderly and had to be subsidised. A school for children and .many free services were maintained, the flatter including the creulation throughout New Zealand of Braille literature.