BLIND SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 16, 21 July 1921, Page 10

BLIND SOLDIERS

WORK OF REPATRIATION

DEPARTMENT

STATEMENT BY MINISTER.

A statement of the work being • done by the After Care branch of the Repatriation Department on behalf of blinded soldiers , was made yesterday ,by the Hon. D. H. Guthrie (Minister in Charge of Repatriation). The Minister said:— "I am more than pleased with the satisfactory manner in which these men's cases have been handled by my officers, and am gratified to know that all the men appear to be happy and comfortably settled. Fortunately, the bulk of them, some twenty-four in all, received most excellent training in different lines at St. Dunstan's, England. The records show hat on arrival in New Zealand each man has been met on the steamer by officers of the Repatriation Department, and his return notified.to the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, the Commercial Travellers' Blind Soldiers and Sailors Fund; and the Repatriation Committee in the man's home district. These blind men are now working as masseurs, poultry farmers, beekeepers, bag, mat, and basket makers, etc., and one man is actually carrying on successfully as a clerk in a well-known company's office! "Apart from liberal assistance rendered by the bodies mentioned, the various patriotic societies, and others, the Lands Department has in many cases assisted in the acquisition of dwellings and small farm properties, and the Repatriation Department has financed some of the men to enable them to start in business in the lines I have indicated. Apparently the majority of the men are mairied, and are therefore in receipt of permanent pensions of £5 10s per week, with 10s, per week extra for each child, the single men drawing permanent pensions of £4 10s per week. Probably what • impressed me most on looking through the files was the cheery optimism of these tragictlly afflicted men, who appear to be surprisingly happy and contented, nothwithstanding their disability." „ _ The. report received by the , Minister regarding the blinded soldiers show the success that has attended the efforts of the Defence Department- and the Repatriation Department to help these men. The men have all been given every opportunity and encouragement to learn trades and occupations, arid they have been assisted liberally to establish themselves comfortably. Some of the reports, made by officers who are themselves returned soldiers, are as follow, the names of the blinded men being omitted:— ' . ■ ,- ■ (1) "Comfortably settled. He occupies his time in making string bags and in looking after a yacht in which, he has n. share. He is quite happy and contented." (2) " In business as a masseur in \uckJand, and is comfortable and contented." (3) '.' He is on the land, holding v section under the Lands for Settlement Act, and is doing well." (4) "He has a house and one acre of land, and is poultry farming. He is doing 0.X., and intends to increase his building!!." (5) " Engaged in hammock making, and is quite satisfied." (6) " Working hard on his farm." \7) "He was granted a loan of £860 by the Land Board for the purchase of land and a house. He is now bee faming and doing well. (8) "This man is engaged as cterk with a Duhedin firm, and is doing splendidly. He has his own house." (9) " Carrying on a poultry farm. Ho is quite happy, and seeui6 very keen on his work." (10) " He is employed by the Defence Department as a masseur, and is Riving every satisfaction." (11) "He has, learnt boot repairing, and desires to start in business on his own account." • ■ ■ (12)'" Employed making hammocks, children's swings, etc. He has a home, with a splendid vegetable garden." (13) " Settled on 48 acres in the AuckWellingtpn, and doing well." (14) "Making seagrass furniture in Wellington, and doing well. • .. j The other reports are similar in tone. It appears that all New Zealand blinded soldiers have been placed in profitable occupations. They are receiving their war pensions, of course, but the effort of the Repatriation Department, has been to guide them into some useful;and con-' genial work, where they will have a chance of happiness that would', scarcely/ be theirs if they were condejnned to a life of idleness. ' .