Governor-General Meets Disabled And Blind

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31143, 20 August 1966, Page 26

Governor-General Meets Disabled And Blind

“I love to gee other people working,” said the GovernorGeneral (Sir Bernard Ferfusson) with a laugh as he greeted men at the Riccarton road centre of the Disabled Servicemen’s Re-Establish-ment League yesterday morning. He toured the centre’s workshops, asking questions and talking to workers and staff. Accompanied by his aide, Lieutenant W. D. S. KaySmith, Sir Bernard Fergusson was welcomed to the centre by the district manager (Mr S. G. Common), the branch chairman of the league (Mr D. W. Russell) and the vice-chairman of the branch and chairman of the training centre committee (Mr A. S. Farrar). He took a particular interest in the artificial limb department and spoke with two young persons who demonstrated the capabilities of their artificial limbs, and also with the 68-year-old Banks Peninsula farmer who this week started walking on an artificial leg only 24 hours after an amputation. Before be bad morning tea with the league’s committee Sir Bernard Fergusson was presented with a picnic basket made on the premises. K l really am terribly Impressed with what I have seen," he said. “I congratulate you op what is being done here.” Sir Bernard Fergusson met Lady Fergusson at the factory of the Carpet Manufacturing Company (New Zealand), Ltd., which she had been inspecting, and the couple drove to the centre of the Foundation for the Blind in Bristol street They were welcomed by the assistant manager (Mr C. A, Pilgrim), the manager (Mr G. F. C. Ashdowne). the chairman of the Christchurch

advisory committee (Mr I. D. Wood) and the regional trustee (Mr T. E. Turner), Mr Wood introducing them to members of the local advisory committee, Mesdames H. Wales and H. Sinclair, Misses E. Allan and N. Em right, and Messrs W. ,G. V. Fernie, A. Miller and J. B. Williams. Sir Bernard and Lady Fergusson inspected the centre and the Fernwood Hostel and spoke with patients. They were shown the hostel by the matron (Miss S. Ormsby) and the assistant matron (Mrs S. Clarke). Sir Bernard Ferfusson spent some time talking via a “teletouch” machine to a woman who is both deaf and blind.