Views On Helping Crippled Children Given To Society

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28669, 20 August 1958, Page 9

Views On Helping Crippled Children Given To Society

“In the general work of our branch we have accomplished a great deal of what we set out to do,” said the president of the Canterbury and West Coast branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society (Mr L. G. K. Steven) at the annual meeting of the society. Mr SteVen said that the aim of the organisation was to help crippled children to find a place in society as ordinary persons. He expressed his pleasure at the way- the younger generation had accepted crippled children in the schools. The society had a strong desire to start the training of the children at a very early age, said Mr Steven. The sooner a child began training the sooner he would learn to overcome his disabilities. Mr Steven said that it was a source of satisfaction to see that there were only 37 cases of poliomyelitis on the society’s register at present. None of these was new and all had been disabled before March, 1957. The branch began the year with 632 cases and finished with 633, 150 new cases having been registered and 149 cases taken from the register. Ways for Help Many ways in which the society could help crippled children were explained to members. Children of school age were brought to the notice of careers advisers and vocational guidance officers so that they might make the best possible use of their time at school and might have expert advice in choosing and entering a career. Swimming classes were provided under the supervision of tutors and outings were arranged. Expert advice was always pro-

vided and when necessary special assistance could be given with transport to and from hospitals. Financial assistance could also be given towards the cost of artificial limbs, surgical footwear, wheeled chairs and other equipment. A visit from the secretarygeneral of the International Society for the Welfare of Clippies (Mr Donald V. Wilson) is expected on October 28. Mr Wilson is breaking his journey to the Pan Pacific Conference to be held in Sydney, specially to address members of the Canterbury and West Coast branch. It is expected that the talk will be given in the Jellicoe Hall. At the conclusion of the meeting a special safety film was shown by Miss M. Farquhar, of the Health Department. A panel discussion on safety in the home was also held with Mr B. W. Smyth as chairman. Officers The following officers were reelected: — Patron, Mr J. Leslie Will; president, Mr L. G. K. Steven; vicepresidents, Mrs Cecil Wood, Miss C. E. Robinson, Professor H. E. Field; treasurer, Mr J. J. Cuddon; general committee, Miss J. Erwin, Dr. D. E. Hansen, Dr. P. C. S. Unwin, Messrs A. B. Mackenzie, G. S. Branthwaite, C. T. Cain, G. Challis, P. A. Hickling, D. W. Hilson, A H. Marker, J. Shanahan, G. C. Weston, Mrs L. W. McCaskill (Greymouth-Hokitika), Miss D. Harkness (Westport-Reef-ton); auditors, Messrs H. R. Best and Abbott; solicitor, Mr R. L. Ronaldson. •