MORE GIFTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 57, 8 March 1935, Page 8

MORE GIFTS.

CRIPPLED CHILDREN

HOME IN AUCKLAND.

MR. W. R. WILSON'S OFFER.

LORD NUFFIELD ADDS £10,000.

Great and sustained applause greeted an announcement by the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, at the luncheon to Lord Nuffield this afternoon, that Mr. W. R. Wilson had offered his magnificent home, St. Leonard's. Takapuna, as a home for crippled children. On top of this announcement came one from Lord Nuffield that he would give £10,000, additional to his gift of AMO.OOO, as the nucleus of an endowment fund for the whole of New Zealand. '"I can .=ense the desire of the people to show Lord Nuffield their keen appreciation of his magnificent gift," said his Worship. "There is only one way for them to do that, and that is for someone in an official capacity to act on their behalf. I propose to open a list to enable expression to be given of the thankfulness of the people for this generous gift.

"I was encouraged to do this by the representations that have already been made to me," continued Mr. Hutchison. "Some people came to see me yesterday and they offered, subject to the necessary endowment funds being granted, to make a donation of their own home. That home is the home of Mr. W. R. Wilson, of Takapuna. It must have required considerable thought for Mr. and Mrs. Wilson to have even considered such a proposal. When one realises that Mr. and Mrs. Wilson will walk out of that home, which is one of the finest, if not the finest in Auckland, one can realise the greatness of the gift."

Cheers For Lord Nuffield. Lord Nuffield, who was greeted with loud cheers and the singing of '"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," said he rose with a certain amount of embarrassment. He had certainly tried to do something for crippled children, but had been overwhelmed with so much kindness and affection that he could hardly say what he wished to. In the first place, he thanked the Almighty that he was not born a cripple, and for that reason he thought it was not only up to him, but it was up to everybody else who had sound bodies and limbs to do what they could for children born into the world deformed or crippled.

"I was overcome by the charity of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson," said Lord Nuffield. "It is remarkable that these two people should prepare to walk out of one of the most beautiful homes in the world—size does not matter —after they have liver! there for 26 years-. I can only presume that they have been stirred by what has already been done, but I do not think they could have been stirred by anything better."

A National Matter. Lord Nuffield said that the cause of crippled children had now become a national matter, and as endowments were being talked of, and since there had been siich a generous offer mad-j that day, he himself would offer £10,000 for the start of an endowment fund for the whole of New Zealand. (Loud applause.) Mr. Hutchison had made a magnificent gesture for Auckland, and he hoped that all the Mayors, both in the North and South Islands, would do the same. (Applause.)

"I shall then have a feeling," he said, "that at any rate in a small way I have started a very great work for this country." (Renewed applause.) "I feel if that is done and the Mayors' funds can collect such large sums of money that that endowment fund will grow to such, an extent that my little donation will go completely out of sight." A Voice: But not forgotten. Lord Nuffield said the fact remained that work such as was undertaken for crippled children could not be done without money. He referred to the orthopaedic hospital that he had built close to his works, and where little children were taken who were born with their feet turned the wrong way. Many of these could walk to-day almost as well as anybody else. The only way was to take the children there early, before their bones were set.

"If you take these poor little devils in hand early enough," he continued, "you can make good citizens of them, and they "will not be in the position of having to be wheeled about in chairs for the whole of their lives. It is horrible to think of it. The little I have been able, to do has given me far more pleasure than it has given to those who have reaped the benefit."

Lord Nuffield said that Mr. Norwood was responsible to- a great extent for the donation he had originally made, lie had put the thought into his (Lord Nuffield'*) mind. He had seen so many crippled children that he at times felt embarrassed that his own limbs were straight. That was why he thought everybody who was fortunate enough to have straight limbs and a good body should look after those who were not so well endowed. He would leave New Zealand leaving Mr. Norwood in chnrge.

"I feel, even including this wonderful gift of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, that there should be only one big national scheme," paid Lord Nuffield, "becauee, in the end, with the fund that will be raised, it will stand a far better chance of succeeding. Unity is strength."

Lord Xuflield believed that it might bo found that certain ailments could be treated better in one place than in another, and vice versa. Therefore, the scheme should be treated nationally.