WORKSHOPS FOR THE BLIND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 34, 3 November 1917, Page 8

WORKSHOPS FOR THE BLIND

EXPENDITURE OP .£500,000. The Departmental Committee on the Welfare of the Blind, of which Mr. Hayes Fisher, M.P, is the chairman, recently issued its report, together with the minutes of evidence. The committee was appointed in May, 1914, the terms of reference being "to consider the present condition of the blind in the United Kingdom and the means available foi (a) their industrial or professional training, and (b) their assistance, and to make recommendations." , ' . The report states tnat the members of the committee have come clearly to the conclusion that the condition of the blind calls for the more active intervention of tho State to secure (a) centra control, organisation, and assistance or the existing agencies of voluntary he I>, which could he utilised with iff eater effect if centrally directed, and (b) additional assistance for the blind. To give effect to such of the proposals as do not fall naturally within the purview of aDT of the existing Government Depart-1 ments, it is recommended that a special department, whose function snould be the °eneral care and supervision of the blind", should lie set up in the Ministry of Health, whenever such a Ministry is created, and that in the meantime it setup in tho Local Governcentral authority should have at ifs disposal funds provided by the Exchequer, in order to make grants, capita and annual, for the purposes indicated in the recommendations, and for such other purposes as may aopear necessary in tho con we of its administration The initial capital expenditure wlncli the committer consider to .be most essential is that which is required for mcreasine the workshon accommodation.. Rome 3000 additional places are urgently required, and the estimated cost -ner P,„ CP varies from .£IOO to .£75. "We think-, therefore." they snr. that havu'i rcwd to the rise in prices, an outsid" wtimnto of the rapitrf snm required wonM l'o -KM-fIOO. This 1= the on y capital ontlnv for the central nntlionlv f-n embark. "»d the sum .mentioned is l w wd nnon fir" r cs obtained n.ft»r careful innuiry." The nmnni „„»i, ( l.tr.re 1S estimated at approximately .£250.000.