PRAISE FROM MINISTER

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23414, 22 August 1941, Page 4

PRAISE FROM MINISTER

Crippled Children Society

“ MUCH ACCOMPLISHED ”

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 21. A tribute to the work of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society was paid by the Minister for Health (the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer), speaking at the annual meeting of the society in Wellington to-day. He congratulated the society on the work it had done in the six years of its existence, and commended the several ways in which it was being extended. Whatever might be the functions of the Government, whatever might be the future of medical practice and health services generally in New Zealand, said Mr Nordmeyer, there would always be a place for institutions like the Crippled Children Society. It was the function of the State to care for the crippled child. It Was the special privilege of the society to look after the interests of the • crippled child. “You bring to bear,” said the Minister, “an individuality of approach that no State department can possibly bring. I hope, therefore, that there is going to be a wide and increasing sphere of usefulness for the Crippled Children Society.” The society had accomplished much in the period of its existence, he said. The growth of .membership, the number of branches, the number of children on the registers, and the spread of its Influence must be very pleasing to the Rotary movement, and the public spirited men and women who had formed the society, and assisted, It in carrying out its .work. Mr. Nordmeyer said the society had recently allocated £IOOO towards the cost of establishing, in co-operation with the Health-Department and hospital boards, travelling orthopaedic clinics, with the object of ensuring specialist advice for crippled children, specially those In country districts. The Minister referred to two other offers made by the society to the Government. The first was £IOOO for the establishment of some form of occupational therapy in hospitals. There were in New Zealand few people really competent to undertake such important work, and he hoped that as a result of the co-operation of the department and hospital boards it would be possible to secure the services of one or more' highly skilled occupational therapists. Second, the society offered £IOO for making available special equipment in technical schools or elsewhere for the vocational training of crippled children. That offer would be taken full advantage of by the Government, which, with the department would do all that was possible to train these children, and give them an opportunity in life. Before the war the crippled child was not wanted by many employers, but the war, with its demand for service of almost anybody who could play any part in economic life, had meant that to-day these children, who had never had an opportunity before, were being employed. He hoped that this would bring before employers, including the Government, the need to give more of these opportunities in future.

Two great crippling diseases, infantile paralysis and tuberculosis, presented formidable problems, but the future was not without hope, said Mr Nordmeyer. Though medical science had not yet solved the mystery of infantile paralysis, it had achieved much to alleviate its often crippling effects by skilled orthopaedic treatment. “I am anxious that we should wage war against the terrible evil of tuberculosis,” said Mr Nordmeyer. “I am satisfied that with drive we can eliminate a great deal of the incidence of tuberculosis in this country. Many children who are crippled would be saved from that state if the people and the State were to embark on a crusade for the elimination of tuberculosis ftbm' bhrla'rid.” '

Address By Lady Ndwail

When declaring open the annual meeting of the society, Lady Newall disclosed that she had been stricken at the age .of three by infantile paralysis. and.cured. Delegates would appreciate her very real sympathy with and understanding of their work, she said, when she told- them that she could speak with deep personal interest and gratitude because of that experience. Her excellency, who is patroness of the society, was welcomed to the meeting by the president (Sir Charles Norwood). Lady Newall congratulated the organisers, members, doctors, and children of the society on the progress made, and wished the society.and the meeting the greatest possible success. Moving the adoption of the annual report, Sir Charles Norwood said it must be a great pleasure to everyone to know that the organisation had proceeded on such businesslike lines on the one hand, and in such a humane way on the other. No branches had been any other than most careful in the expenditure of funds. Officers elected were:—Patroness, Lady Newall; president, Sir Charles Norwood; executive council, Mr. F. Campbell (Wellington, chairman), Sir Alexander Roberts (Wellington), Brigadier F. T. Bow.erbank (Wellington), Dr. A. Gillies (Wellington), Messrs J. M. A. Ilott (Wellington), B. R. Dobbs (Wanganui). W. G. Black (Palmerston North), S. L. P. Free (Masterton), M. Fraser (Wellington), E. W. Hunt (Wellingon), J. K, Edle (associate member), W. E. Furby (Canterbury); honorary solicitors, Messrs F. C. Spraft and H. Taylor; honorary 'treasurer, Mr E. W. Hunt; honorary auditor, Mr W. H. Nankervis, The meeting will continue to-morrow morning. ■.. .