BLINDNESS IN BRITAIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3355, 3 January 1927, Page 7

BLINDNESS IN BRITAIN.

Blindness is slightly moreprevalent among men than women, stales toe sum report to tne rvxnnsiry or rreaiwi, or me .auvisoiy oommuiee on me vveilaro or me mum, which was pumisneu recently, dealing wrm me years xvtt--u. mi Alurcn or, xvzo, says tne rc port, me grass total or tne mind population was 4Z,i4U, representing a proportion or one buna person lor every »rr or me general population, jm ibzo tne olind population was given as do,did. Tins consiueraoie increase in me number or tne registered ohn« in tne two years between xb2d and i\)2o is notame, says tne report, out in the absence or any eviuence or an actual increase ot blindness, it must be set down to better registration. •it is, peruaps, m some importance that tne average expectation oi Hie ot tne general population is stated to have unproven," adds tlie report, ‘consequentiy mere is liKeiy to be more ordinary senne onnaness, anu, in laet. muen tne greater part oi tne increase is louuu in tne age periods over ou. rt wouiu seem, tnereiore, tnat witnout any alteration in me present rate oi incidence oi blindness mere will oe a natural increase in me mind population of approximately ittuo every ten years, Jioriy-seven per cent, ot tne general population are maies, out m tne blind population oi per cent, are ot tnis sex ; muicaung tnat blindness is siigntiy more prevalent among men than women, prouaoiy because ibe tormer are subject to greater risks in industry." Tne report records that the introduction ot orate and rate-aided services tor the blind has not nad tne eitect feared in some quarters ot reducing voluntary subscriptions and donations, but nas actually ueen accompanied oy a substantial increase m tne income or voluntary agencies tram these sources. Among suggestions made by tne Committee are tnat local authorities, in co ojieration with tlie appropriate boards ot guardians and voiuntory agencies, should make a survey ot tne position as regards the unemployable blind in their areas and,consider proposals for dealing witn their requirements according co a definite policy oi assistance. It wauld not bein the best interests of the blind to introduce a system of payment in workshops which had no relation to earning capacity, nut that the present piecework basis snouki be maintained. Much could be done to reduce losses of the blind workshops by good salesmanship and by the introduction ot a system ot co-operative selling among the workshops. There should be no alteration in the present procedure in regard to blind voters at polling stations, whore the presiding ofncer is now responsible for the assistance of blind persons in recording their votes. It had been suggested that a blind voter should be entitled to bring a guide or other person to assist him.