MR NASH HAS BUSY DAY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29235, 20 June 1960, Page 12

MR NASH HAS BUSY DAY

Engagements In Christchurch

The Prime Minister (Mr Nash) had a busy day in Christchurch on Saturday. He visited “Fernwood,’* the hostel run by the New Zealand Foundation for the Blitid. met members of the Christchurch Old Folks’ and Beneficiaries’ Association and of the Christchurch Deaf Club, and attended a social evening held by the St Albans inter-branch council ot the Labour Party. He returned to Wellington yesterday.

Mr Nash was shown over “Fernwood” by the matron (Mrs G. Grensell). He inspected the female staff quarters and kitchen, and was given afternoon tea. He then visited the rooms and the lounges, where each of the patients was introduced to him. Mrs E. Goodchild, who is deaf as well as blind, communicated with the Prime Minister by a tella-touch machine, which has a keyboard similar to that of a typewriter. Mr Nash later told her a story on the machine. Mr I. D. Wood, chairman of the Canterbury advisory committee for the New Zealand Foundation for the Blind, and Mr A. Robertson, a member of the committee and the Canterbury representative on the board of manage-

ment, were also in the party. Others were Mr G. F. C. Ashdowne, braiich manager of the foundation, Mr N. G. Pickering, M.P., Mr J. Palmer, local secretary of the Labour Party, Mr C. A. Pilgrim, assistant manager of the hostel, and Mr P. Barnes, senior secretary to Mr Nash. Nurse P. M. Stevenson also accompanied the party. “I will find a way of seeing that you get the same help as others have got.” the Prime Minister told members of the Christchurch Old Folks’ and Beneficiaries’ Association. Mr Nash had been invited to inspect the association’s rooms, as it is seeking a Government subsidy to enlarge the present premises. Nearly 250 elderly persons crowded into the Memorial Pensioners’ Hall in Worcester street to hear the Prime Minister. “We are hopelessly overcrowded,” said Mr S. Ridout, secretary of the association. “There is a membership of 378, with 500 more wanting to join.”

Mr Ridout said that the association organised games of cards three times a week and a social every Saturday night. Mr Nash outlined the growth of a pensioners’ club in Lower Hutt where the members by their own efforts raised £7OOO and received a further £28.000 from the city council. “When you get some money the Government will help in the ordinary way,” said Mr Nash. Mr Pickering and Mr M. A. Connelly, M.P.s, also spoke. Mr H. Grade, senior vicepresident of the association presided at the function.

Girls from the Santa Rosa Club, dressed in traditional Dutch costumes, sang before Mr Nash left the hall.

Mr Nash visited the Christchurch Deaf Club at 11.30 p.m. on Saturday. He stayed ’ until 11.50 p.m. when he went back to the Shirley Intermediate Schoo) to have his photograph taken at the social of the St. Albans interbranch council of the Labour Party. The Christchurch Deaf Club plans new rooms, and Mr Nash promised the usual Government subsidy to assist it