CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 59, 7 September 1945, Page 8

CRIPPLED CHILDREN

WORK IN WELLINGTON

During the year over £2J/>0 had been spent, and he was proud of the benefits conferred and the assistance given, said the president, Mr. L. T. Watkins, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet at the annual meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society last night. There were more than 5000 crippled children in New Zealand, he said. A cripples' centre in central New Zealand, with hospitals, clinics, schools, a solarium, workrooms, and recreation and social amenities, were urgent needs, and these could be partly supplied by the State and partly by public support. If the State gave a centre the congregation of crippled children, which was the best course, would be of great ultimate benefit. National sympathy would be understood and appreciated by the children and would help their mental uplift, which • was more important than their physical welfare, and would brighten their outlook. The Wellington branch had practically £2000 set aside, and that amount could easily be increased. He believed that the Trust Board would be interested in such an effort.

Treatment should be given to children as early as possible, said Mr. E. W. Hunt. It was a mistake for parents not to come forward. No case would be turned down. An immense amount of work had been done by the society's medical officers, who were interested more by what they put into the effort than what they got out of it. There was no wish to conserve the society's fund except against the possibility of an epidemic of infantile paralysis.

AFTER-CARE WORK.

The appreciation of his colleagues Cor the work done by the society, especially in the matter of after-cure. was expressed by Dr. A. Gillies. Seeing the children through their education after their treatment was invaluable. The State Departments had given valuable assistance, and the work of the correspondence school was of great value. The end of the first decade had shown wonderful results. and the end of the second decade would show even greater results.

Dr. A. G. Butchers, headmaster of the district correspondence school, said that the school provided a means of education for handicapped children.

Complimenting the society on the work shown in the report, the Mayor (Mr; Appleton) said it had contributed to the welfare of hundreds who needed skilled treatment and sympathetic attention. The kindly human touch meant much, the helping of children without their being conscious of it. At Timaru he had come across a young woman who had been without the use of her eyes since birth. Today she did fancywork and knitted, in both cases the work being of a high standard. In- his opinion, a training centre was a matter for the Government, leaving the individual touch to the society. It was a work that merited full support and generous donations.

The national pz-esident of the society, Sir Charles Norwood, said that all that the society needed to assure its extension and its full use to the community was publicity.

Officers were elected as follows:— Patron, the Mayor (Mr. Appleton); president, Mr. E. W. Hunt; vice-presi-dents, Bishop Holland, Archbishop O'Shea, Lady Myers, Lady Buckleton, Lady Norwood, Lady Roberts, Lady Pomare, Sir Charles' Norwood, Mes"dames A. Gillies, F. E. Herbert, B. Sutherland, Knox Gilmer, and Messrs. Malcolm Fraser and L. T. Watkins; general committee. Mesdames Appleton, M. Fraser. W. Bullock, F. C. Spratt, E. W. Hunt, C. Levin, L. T. Watkins, M. G. Berry, C. Holden. W. A. Nicholson. A. A. Stichbury, F. M. Don, Sister N. Mackenzie. Sister Janet, Misses M. Lambie, 0.8. E., Macalister, I. Myers, C. Wallace, Messrs. H.. E. Combs. M.P., J. C. Riddell, J. Penman, M. Fraser, E. W. Hunt, R. G. Ridling, A. J. Hum, W. McLay, S. M. Hobbs, L. T. Watkins, G. H. Scott, E. E. Nansett. G. Gore, L. H. Wood, and H. A. Nicholson.