BLIND EX-SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 56, 4 September 1934, Page 11

BLIND EX-SOLDIERS

MELBOURNE CONFERENCE

Thp Empire conference of associations concerned with the welfare and upkeep of blind ex-soldiers will be held at Melbourne this year, following the valuable work done at St. Dunstan's, in London, where soldiers are taught handicrafts and the Braille system.

The Dominion will be represented by Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, of Auckland, and Mr. B. E. Selby, secretary of the Wellington Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association, and representatives of the Dominions will gather in Melbourne for the opening of the conference on November 5. Mr. Mackenzie received his own valuable training at St. Dunstan's, and Mr. Solby has been secretary of the Commercial Travellers' Blind Soldiers' and Sailors' Fund since 1919, and has a South African War and Great War record. The blind chairman of St. Dunstan's, Sir lan Fraser, M.P., will attend the ' conference at rielbourne, and with Lady Fraser .will.'Visit blinded soldiers and sailors'in New Zealand and Australia who have been " trained and re-educated at St. Dunstan^s, with the object of further helping their local organisations.

The conference will open in the morning with a welcome to all overseas delegates; a session for the receipt of reports, etc., will take place in the afternoon, and that evening a dinner will be accorded to the delegates. On November 6 the delegates will be the guests of the V.R.C. at the Melbourne Cup Meeting at Flemington. On November 7 they will attend the reception to Prince Henry in the forenoon, and will bo in session in the afternoon. On November 8 there will be sessions mornand afternoon. A dance and a smoke concert are mentioned among the other attractions provided for. delegates.