GIFTS FOR THE BLIND

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22081, 1 May 1937, Page 7

GIFTS FOR THE BLIND

DISTRIBUTION OF LORD NUFFIELD'S GRANT

EXPRESSION OP GRATITUDE TO THE MAYOR Blind citizens of Christchurch are very grateful to Lord Nuffield for his gifts to the city, part of which has been granted to them from the £BSOO which was allotted to Christchurch, They are also grateful to the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr J. W. Beanland. for allocating £IOOO out of the total amount given to Christchurch to be spent on blind people in this city. This was shown at the half-yearly meeting and social given to them by the advisory committee of the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund at the social room in the Christchurch City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, at which thero was an attendance of nearly 200 blind men, women, and children and their friends. The following motion was moved by the chairman of the advisory committee, Mr H. Holland, seconded by Mr W. T. Woods, the secretary, and carried with musical honours: "That this meeting of blind people and their friends desires to place on record its warm thanks and appreciation to the Mayor, Mr J. W. Beanland. for his generous allocation of £IOOO of Lord Nuffield's bounty to the «ity, to provide comforts and necessities, for the blind people of Christchurch'and surrounding districts." Mr Holland, in supporting his motion, said that from the funds allocated it had been decided to give every blind person in a family £1 10s, a blind widow or widower living alone £l, and blind persons under the age of 21, 10s each. The allocation would also be used for the provision of blankets and other necessaries of life for those who were handicapped with the loss of their sight. He congratulated Mr Beanland on having made such a wise distribution of Lord Nuffield's gift. Mr Beanland, in replying, said he thought that any money which was spent on providing comforts for blind members of the community was money well spent. It had taken a great deal of time and much thought to decide the wisest way of distributing the grant.