DISABLED MEN'S HANDICRAFT

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22113, 8 June 1937, Page 10

DISABLED MEN'S HANDICRAFT

♦— — EXHIBITION OF WORK FROM BRITAIN OPENING CEREMONY HELD An exhibition of the handicrafts of disabled sailors and soldiers in Great Britain in the employment of the Disabled Sailors' and Soldiers' Mutual Association, which is at present being shown in centres throughout New Zealand under the direction of the organising secretary of the association, Mr H. W. Guy, was opened in the rooms of the Automobile Association, Canterbury (Inc.), yesterday. There was a large attendance, which included the Hon Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, M.L.C, who performed the official opening ceremony, and the Mayor 01 Christchurch, Mr J. W. Beanland, who presided. Mr Beanland, in introducing Mr Guy, said that the work which his association was carrying out was a great one. Everybody knew the value of an organisation, which tried to help disabled men to do something worth while, and also to give them an interest which helped them to regain their self-respect. He did not think that so much progress had been made in New Zealand in helping disabled men, although the returned soldiers' associations in the main centres were doing valuable work in this way. He was very glad to see that so much interest was being taken in the exhibition. The exhibition showed what could be done by the men, and if the public responded as they should do to so worthy an object, he felt sure that others would realise to the full, the value of the work done. Mr H. W. Guy, in outlining the history of the movement, said that it had grown up from a humble beginning in a very haphazard way. One should try to imagine the state ot mind of the man who had been injured or maimed for life after the war had ended. While he was in hospital he was well cared for and had received the best of attention, but after he left the hospital he went into the street with little to encourage him. His state of mind must have been terrible in the realisation that he would not be able to return to his former occupation because of his physical handicap. At the time, however, few had realised the greatness of the problem. The Government had given what it had thought sufficient in the way of pensions, but the men's problems did not stop there. It was not possible to give a man £2 or £3 a week and to expect him to be content. He wanted to work and earn more. This was the reason for the springing up of his organisation, said Mr Guy. He outlined the humble beginning of his association. Eventually it had purchased a disused factory establishment surrounded by bungalow resi--1 dences. Little by little the work had grown, and the profits made had been [ used to employ extra men. This had | been accomplished without the aid of charitable appeals, and by this means men had been helped to regain their self respect and to accomplish something that was worth while. ! All the articles in the exhibition had i been made entirely by the men. and although perhaps they were slightly higher in price than the manufactured articles, the purchaser had the satisfaction of knowing thai he was buying a hand-made article of better materials, and also of knowing that he was assisting in an excellent work. In declaring the exhibition open, Sir Heaton Rhodes said he considered it a great honour to be present. The object of the association must appeal to all, for by helping a man to rind an interest in life when he had lost his facilities the association was doing a great service. He hoped that everybody would do his utmost to support the exhibition. The exhibition will be open to-day and ;to-morrov*