MAIN WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 181, 1 August 1936, Page 10

MAIN WORK.

HELPING CRIPPLES.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING. IMMENSE DIFFICULTIES SEEN Stating that the society realised the splendid work being done by public hospitals, the report of the New Zealand Crippled Children's Society, to be presented at the first annual meeting in Wellington on August 4, defines what it considers the main work of the society. "As the position is being investigated it becomes even clearer than before that the main work of the society will lie in preparing and helping the cripple to establish himself or herself as a selfsupporting independent unit in our economic system," states the report. "The vocational training and placing in employment or self-sustaining industry will be the main work of the society. The immense difficulties of the problem are recognised and the position is being carefully studied. Probably specialist development at our principal technical schools and colleges will be found to offer some practical possibilities towards a partial solution and to offer the best line of advance at present. Then a 'cripple consciousness' must be created in the community, and existing prejudices, often ill-founded, to the employment of cripples in suitable industries removed. Branches are recommended to direct their attention to this aspect of the cripple problem."

Real Assistance Given. Despite the extent of organisation necessary in every district, very real assistance has been provided for a number of cripples, and it can already be said that the society has amply justified its existence and that a very "definite and widespread need exists for such work as the society purposes to carry out. Many of the branches have been actively engaged in work for a few months only, the report adds. Consequently details of work accomplished are not easily recorded in tabulated form, but 1009 cases of crippled chldren have been recorded by the 14 branches, from which reports were received at the time of writing. Bearing in mind that tho society was not formed to relieve hospital boards of any of their obligations in regard to cripples, but to supplement ?ueh work and not to overlap into fields of other kindred societies (charitable aid, etc.), branches have been careful that any expenditure incurred went for the direct benefit of the cripple. The extent of their expenditure is no indication of the work done, as so much of it is of a voluntary and honorary character—visitations, medical examinations, transport provided, and the like. Treatments Detailed. Most of the recorded cases have been either medically examined or visited and investigated. Many have been brought to treatment. Branches have dealt with cases in different ways, according to need. Some of the activities undertaken may be mentioned. Cripples are visited in homes and hospitals. A few cases unable to attend school, and where tlicir circumstances were against their benefiting by the correspondence education system were provided with visiting tutors. Swimming classes have been arranged under supervision of hospital masseuses. Several cripples have been sent to country districts, board and medical supervision being arranged there. Courses of training in bootrepairing, motor engineering, printing, accountancy, dressmaking, stenography, have been arranged in some cases, while several have been placed in , employment.

A number of cases have been sent by branches from country districts for expert treatment and instruction to the larger centres, some of which called for the assistance of the executive in having the transfer effected—Gisbornc, Hawke's Bay, Hawera. and Palmerston North to Wellington; Taumarunui, Opotiki, Tauranga, Maungapehi, Te Kuiti and Waihi to Auckland; Timaru and Oamaru to Dunedin. Clothing, books and stationery for post-primary education, and prams, chairs, crutches, and other aids have been provided.