FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22795, 22 August 1939, Page 7

FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN

SCOPE FOR VOLUNTARY WORK

SOCIETY DEFINES ITS POSITION

“Then are those who protest that the voluntary organisation is out of place in work wnich it is ttie duty of the State to undertake,” says the annual report of the executive of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society. “To them the word ‘voluntary’ in such a connexion suggests a condescending benevolence which is wholly distasteful. “The work, they argue, is or should be a national obligation, which ought not to be dependent in any respect on the charitable, impulses of kindly individuals, uncertain, and at best, limited as these must be, but is essentially of a kind to be handled nationally—the State alone being in a position to control and co-ordinate on an adequate scale. “Now, those who seek to exclude the .voluntary element altogether forget that an 'rganisation set up and financed by enthusiasts in the cause, while it may have its weaknesses, will yet possess an elasticity necessarily denied a body whose financial resources are levied by assessment on the general public, and that this elasticity should be of priceless value. “It is the function and privilege of the voluntary organisation to go ahead pioneering the unknown fields, testing and exploring : in ways which the State-controlled body hesitates and rightly so. to attempt. “In these days of systematised efficiency the voluntary organisation does not represent, as some people seem to ■suppose, the inexperienced efforts of ah assembled group of amateur philanthropists. Rather is it the means by which skilled pioneers are free.to'prepare the way for he State’s subsequent advance, and experienced workers . are ~ provided to cover ground which, open as it is only to the personal touch. must, always remain outside tl official province. Experimental Stages “The systematic care of the crippled child fusing the phrase in its broadest sense)’ is at a comparatively early stage and still largely experimental. Moreover, the work is, of its essence, personal, , concerned fundamentally with the requirements of individuals. No t\.o cases can be handled alike, but each one has its own problems which, before they can be solved, may raise unexpected issues leading far away from the original one of physical disablement. For both these reasons the work needs the assistance that a voluntary organisation is especially qualified to give. “Such an organisation as ours, keeping as it were, a little ahead of the State and taking advantage of its independence, can investigate and try out new methods alike in the sphere of clinical work and of the training and employment of the disabled. Experience thus obtained will indicate the lines on which public authorities may themselves most usefully incur expenditure. “The investigation of complicated individual circumstances arising out of after-care and the teaching of occupational work will probably always be more easily undertaken • by voluntary effort than by,the State. Close cooperation between the two is resulting in a comprehensive scheme .combining the advantages inherent in both." ‘ Children Registered Records set out. in ,the report show that at March 31 this year there "were 2193 children on the registers of the 17 branches in New Zealand. Of these 1248 were boys nd 945 girls. Life and annual members of the society total 3661. . Vocatipnal guidance has taken a prominent part in the year’s work, a,grant 'of pal Affairs fthe' Hbm! W.’rE, Parry) for this purpose having bben received. v The total income of the branches for the year was £8930. Expenditure exceeded annual income by £347, Substantial contributions were received from the public by way of subscriptions. gifts, arid bequests. The annual meeting of the New Zealand society will be held in Wellington this morning. CHJPPLED MAORI . CHILDREN DIFFICULTY WITH PARENTS OVER TREATMENT Maori people have shown reluctance to send their children for treatment, according to the annual report of the New Zealand executive of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society. The report says: “To. investigate the welfare of Maori crippled children, the executive has requested the Wanganui, and Manawatu branches to prepare reports covering their bWn respective areas, so that certain information can be collated as a basis for a conference between representatives. of . . the Native and Health Departments and the New Zealand exdcMve.'v It felt that such a conference Would be of assistance to other branches who were experiencing difficulties 'in .this; direction. <v‘;Mr ’ G.,’ H.: -the UnderrSectetafy of .the Native Department; attended a- preliminary meeting and'.reports.-how .received mentioned -the freluctance, for « number. of reasons. - of; Maori parents’ and friends ’tb send; children‘for. treatment. Sometimes the advice given, by members of the medcal profession often entails continuous home nursing—which some Maoris will not undertake. •’fft is generally : considered that only a patient and sympathetic understanding; will influence-;the, Maori prejudice to be overcome, arid- as education in hygiene extends, ’ better, housing conditions are provided- arid greater attention to then the reluctance to seek; adyiejb; for crippled children, will diminish. . , “Meanwhile there is no lack ;of funds to complicate the problem further, and the executive, yvill not hesitate to de-. vote any funds necessary, to obtain treatment for Maori criopled ‘ children. It remains a human and personal factor, arid not the economic-difficulty that must- be surmounted.” , ,