DEEP INTEREST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 139, 14 June 1935, Page 3

DEEP INTEREST.

WELFARE OF BLIND.

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

FIRST VISIT TO INSTITUTE,

"We should like on this our first visit to the New Zealand Institute for the Blind, to express our interest and sympathy with the work that is being done- here," said his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Galway, speaking this morning in the hall at the institute. His Excellency, accompanied by Lady Galway, made a thorough inspection of ail oliases of the work dono there. They were conducted through the entire block of buildings by tho director, Sir Clutlia Mackenzie; and finally they listened to vocal, band and organ items in the hall.

"I can assure you that personally I have a very deep sympathy in w.)rk for tho blind," the Governor-General said, "because in tho last years of his life my father lost his eight." He appreciated the courage with which the blind grappled with their altered conditions and their now environment. There were compensations, he eaid, mentioning the music he had just heard. He and all present were sympathetic with tho aims of the institute, and would do everything possible to encourage and help it. He and Lady Galway hoped several times to pay visits. Ho wished great happiness and content to all who had lost their sight. Hie Excellency gained himself immediate popularity by asking for a half-holiday from school for all those in the institute.

Mr. A. J. Hutchinson, chairman of the board of trustees, who introduced their Excellencies, said that for many years the institute had enjoyed the good will and approval of the Governors-General of the Dominion. He well remembered tho first visita of Lord Jellicoe, Sir Charles Fergusson and Lord Bledisloy, all of whom worked to further the interests of tho organisation. He used tho word "organisation" because the institute's interests on behalf of the blind were not coniined to Auckland, but extended throughout the Dominion. Ho welcomed their Excellencies, and assured Lie audience that they would take tho same kindly interest in the blind that their predecessors had done.

When his Excellency arrived, punctually at 10.30,. he inspected a guard of honour of blinded returned soldiers. He was received by the director, Sir Clutlia Mackenzie, Mr. Hutchinson and other trustees, and by the secretary, Mr. J. E. Broadfoot, and tho matron, Miss C. Swaneton. As her Excellency was about to enter tho hall to hear the concert, she was presented with a bouquet by little Miss Laurel Mutimer, a pupil at tho school.