SOCIAL SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25306, 4 October 1947, Page 2

SOCIAL SERVICE

ADDRESS AT PARENTS’ MEETING An address on the co-operation of social services was given by Mr A J McEldowney, superintendent of Presbyterian Social Services, at a meeting of the Parents’ National Educational Union, held last night at the home of Mr and Mrs H. Wyatt,. Knowles street. Mrs Wyatt and Mrs R. H. Sail were hostesses and Mrs Douglas Anderson presided.

Mr McEldowney, defining the aim of social work as that of helping individuals to fit \ themselves in a sociably desirable way to the environment in which they lived, said that social work, on the whole, was now highly organised. This might sometimes be a pity, but, as we live in a complex world, organisation was necessary. The crying need in New Zealand was the lack of trained workers. In America and in Sydney, where zie himself was trained, the universities provided the necessary courses, and he hoped that within the next year or two provision for training social workers would be made at Victoria University College. Wellington. Speaking from experience gained d P r J,?g 27 years in active work, Mr McEldowney said that no amount of training would make a successful welfare worker if the personal qualities were lacking. To be useful and helpful, the welfare worker needed to have sympathy, understanding, and imagination; he must be able to see himself in circumstances similar to those in which the person he wished to help was placed. Mr McEldowney dealt with various kinds of social work now undertaken by the Government. He described the growth of such services as the Child Welfare Department, the work of vocational guidance, and the Health Department. in which he felt that, as well as doctors and nurses, welfare workers were needed. He had found that in the physical education department and in work for mental patients in hospital, the authorities and officials were z most co-operative and he mentioned that at the Templeton farm, where there were 400 children, his organisation, in addition to regular visiting, provided an entertainment once a fortnight. “And you would be surprised.” he said, “how much these sub-normal patients enjoy pictures and good music and how well many of them can sing.” Mr McEldowney asked for increased kindly interest in those needing special treatment, such as persons released from prison. Many of these, he said, could be. and were, satisfactorily rehabilitated by sympathetic, comradely treatment, and by being trusted and given resoonsibility. After Mr McEldowney had answered many Questions, he was thanked by Mrs A. K. Warren.

The sum of £64 4s 9d was raised for a candidate in the “Miss N.Z.” contest. Miss Olga Purvfis, by a copper trail in Cathedral square yesterday Six nurses from Britain—Misses Ivy Howlett, Doreen Nicoll, Anne Taylor. Trent Halford, Marion Waller and Margaret Aitchison—gave short talks to the crowds in the square on conditions in Britain to-day. Last evening a concert was held in the Square and a large crowd gathered to hear the items. Nearly £29 was collected. Mr E. Manning. a British merchant seaman from a ship at present in Lyttelton, sang several songs, and thanked those who had contributed. Items were given by the Christchurch Municipal Band. Messrs C. O’Hagan. Aroha Pahi, N. McKay. K. Morris, Trevor Clark’s band. Miss B. Carnachan’s dancing school, and Miss G. Torkington.