HELP WHILE YOUNG

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 249, 18 July 1944, Page 6

HELP WHILE YOUNG

Crippled Children In Wellington

Gratification that crippled children are being brought to the notice of those who can help them while they are so young was expressed by the president of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society, Mr. L. T. Watkins. at its annual meeting last night. He pointed out that the records of the branch for the year showed that, of the 142 new cases placed on its register, 85 were of children under five years. If those children had been set aside and neglected the damage would have been irreparable, he said. There had been 700 cases on the register during the year, and it was interesting to reflect that that, number were receiving active treatment in Wellington alone, whereas when the society was being founded seeplies had said there were only a few hundred throughout New Zealand. About a hundred new cases came within the society's care every year, the figure of 142 this year being the largest in the nine years of the existence of the branch. Speech therapy was a now activity. Mr. 11. W. Hunt, chairman of the executive, said the society's two welfare workers had done a great deal to find cripples so that they could hem-lit from the society. Many cripples were in unknown [daces, or were children whom people did not know were crippled.

A discussion on the need for an orthopaedic hospital in Wellington resulted in the following motion being carried: — "That the hospital board be asked to make the temporary accommodation for orthopaedic patients as up-to-date as it ran possibly be made in the new Silverstream block, and that the plans be made available for the society's inspection.’’ The election of olliecrs resulted as follows:—d’a Iron/ the mayor, Mr, Appleton: president, Mr. L. T. ’Watkins; vicepresidents. Bishop Holland. Archbishop O'Shea. Lady Myers. Lad.v Buckleton, Lady Norwood. Lady Roberts, Lad.v I’omare. Sir James Grose, Sir Charles Norwood. Mesdamos T. A, Hislop. A. Gillies, F. E. Herbert, B. Sutherland, Knox Gilmer, I’. l-’i-nser. and Mr. M. Eraser; general committee. Mesdames M. Eraser, E. <’. Spratt. E. W. Hunt, W. A peleton, W. Bullock. C. Lovin, L. T. Watkins, M. G, Berry. C. Holden, W. A. Nicholson. A. A. Stichbury and F. M. Don, Sister N. Mackenzie. Misses M. Lambin. <>.:P,.E;.. I. Mvers and C. Wallace, Messrs. J. C. Riddell. J. Penman. M. Eraser. Ernest W. Hunt. It. <!. Ridling. A. J. Horn. W. Mel.av. S. M. Hobbs. L. T. Watkins. G. IL Scott. 11. E. Cmnlw, M.P.. E. E. Nansen. G. Gore and 1,. 11. Wood: bon. treasurer. Mr. J. T. Cook: lion, auditor, Mr. (',. 11. Suisted ; lion, solicitors'. Messrs. Morison. Spratt. Morison and Tnvtor,