Appeal for unity among disabled

Press, 25 March 1981, Page 6

Appeal for unity among disabled

A call for unity among disabled persons’ groups was made in Christchurch yesterday by the Minister of Health 'Mr Gair) when he opened the new headquarter for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canterbury. : The society has broken awav from .. National

Multiple Sclerosis Society of New Zealand. Mr Gair said that it seemed unfortunate to him as an outsider that in the present International Year of ‘Disabled Persons this had occured. He advised the society to realise the importance of unity with all those engaged in the health and welfare services. “Given reason on all sides, even what seems t > be the most serious of family disputes can be settled,” Mr Gair said.

The opening of the new centre in a converted residential property in England Street. Linwood, was an!

achievement of which the society could be proud and marked an important step forward for more than 200 people in Canterbury with multiple sclerosis. The president of the society, Mr M. A. Rickerby, said that the decision of the Canterbury group to break away from the National Multiple Sclerosis. Society was taken after long examination as to what was best for people with .multiple sclerosis. ' , “The unanimous decision of our local committee to make , this break was taken last year in an endeavour to draw to the attention of .tlie other 13 multiple sclerosis societies the urgent nee ', for a properly, organised national body, run on professional lines, to be set up,” Mr Rickerby said.

“Until this is done the work for multiple sclerosis people will be hampered by

unco-ordinat’d hit-and-miss approaches.”

Mr Rickerby said that' the local Multiple Sclerosis Society had evolved to a point where it had formed very strong links with the community which gave it support. “This has come about through forward-thinking and not hammering away at weaknesses.”

The society, the only one in New Zealand to employ a full-time professional director, was very reliant on community support, he said. In the last two weeks, with a sponsored run and the annual street appeal, the community had responded by helping the society with about $11,500. “We are very grateful for this, but to carry- in our activities and expand some of our services we need in excess of $45,000 to work this year,”. Mr Rickerby said. - ..