HELPING CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Evening Star, Issue 22362, 11 June 1936, Page 7

HELPING CRIPPLED CHILDREN

SOCIETY'S ANNUAL MEETING A SUCCESSFUL YEAR The annual meeting of tlio Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children’s Society was held in the Chamber of Commerce rooms last night. Mr F. W. Mitchell was in the chair. CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS. The adoption of the annual report and balance sheet was moved by the chairman, who said that ho did so with great satisfaction, and he was sure that the members would also be satisfied. He then went on to say that the report fully covered the activities of the different committees, but a brief resume would not be out of place. When the society had been formed it had not intended to establish a new organisation, to operate apart from the existing services in the treatment of their hapless follow-creatures, and the wisdom of this course had been abundantly proved. At the very outset the medical profession had responded readily to the almost unspoken appeal for help, and had through the year given them the benefit of their knowledge and' experience. Conspicuous in this respect were the" services rendered by Mr Renfrew White, to whom, as the head of the orthopaedic department of the Public Hospital, the work had proved specially appealing. Coupled with this, they had received much assistance from the same institution’s massage department, under the able control of Miss Roberts. Then the Education Department, the St. John Ambulance Association, and other bodies had helped considerably, with the result that the review of the situation, which it had been decided at the conference in Wellington last July should be the first activity of all the affiliated associations, had been carried out without difficulty. Accordingly, they had on record most of the cases in their district, and were now in a position to pursue the aims with which the movement had been inaugurated. These, shortly, wore to get a record of all cases, ascertain their immediate needs, see that the necessary treatment was made available by providing transport, etc., follow up the treatment as far as was possible, and endeavour to make up the deficiencies caused by their affliction by vocational guidance and education. So far the results had been distinctly encouraging, though, of course, they were only making a beginning, and there was plenty of work ahead. _ Finance was always a consideration in such movements as theirs, and he was glad to say that, from the liberal response to a modified appeal, sufficient funds had been obtained to supply a small working capital. Calls upon this would, however, grow almost immediately, and he expected the Finance Committee to resume the canvass started last year. They should have no difficulty in securing a large number of annual subscribers at a small fee, and if this were done the finance of the society would be secure. He should, perhaps, said the chairman, refer to the Nuffield Trust. The establishment of this trust had been a material factor in setting the crippled children’s scheme going. Lord Nuffield’s generous donation (£50,000) was certainly substantial, but only the income, and properly so, was available to assist the movement. It was estimated that there were 3,000 children in this unhappy state, so it would be seen that the assistance to each from this source would be small, and they must rely chiefly on what could be obtained in the manner he had referred to. In conclusion, he would like to extend the grateful thanks and appreciation of the executive to all Mhose who had so generously assisted them, and take this opportunity of appealing for a continuance of the excellent work done, (Applause.) Seconding the motion, Mr M. S. Myers said that the report spoke very well for the work carried out by so young a society. It was apparent that the society had nothing hut friends and wellwishers, as there had not been the slightest criticism. Considering the amount of its capital fund the society was fortunate to have carried out its year’s woiik at a comparatively small cost. In conclusion, he congratulated the president on the interest he was taking in the society. The motion was carried.

, ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of office-bearers resulted: —Patrons, the mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox), Sir Percy Sai'good; president, Mr F. W. Mitchell; vice-presidents—Messrs P. L. Halstead, James Hogg, J. L. Salmond, J. Renfrew White, J. G. Dykes, and. Arthur Barnett; committee — Bishop Fitchett, Sir Louis Barnett, Dr J Thomson, Dr M'Kibbon, Dr Gerald Fitzgerald, Dean Cruickshank. Monsiguor Morkane, Dr A. J. Cotrell, Dr C. E. Hercus, Rev. F. V. Fisher, Messrs George Simpson, T. C. Boss, J. B. Waters') V. S. Jacobs, James Farquharsou, J. T Paul, P. L. Halstead, J. G. Dykes, W. E. S. Knight, Arthur Barnett, W. H. Shepherd, W. A. Flavell, Maurice Myers, J. H. F. Hamel, Alfred Jbbotson, James Begg, J. J. Marlow, D. C. Cameron, Richard Hudson, Alexander Laurenson, P. W. Stabb, C. B. Barrowclough, Thomas Somerville, C. V. Smith. R. S. Black, H. J. Guthrie, J. C. Shand, Gerald Benson, James Brown, A. Mumford, Gerald Lane, Peter Findlay, and S. Dunkley; secretary. Mr R. S. M. Sinclair; treasurer, Mr W. R. Brown; auditors, Messrs W. E. C. Reid and Co. ADDRESS BY MR RENFREW WHITE At the conclusion of the business of the meeting Mr J. Renfrew White delivered a short address. During his recent visit to England, he said, he had obtained information which would lie of value to the society. It would be difficult, he continued, to improve on the admirable work that had been done, as had been outlined in the report. He thought that the society had made a splendid start. He referred to the stops taken to get into touch with cases,' and what had been done. They had already six to eight children coming to the Hospital every week. Their work in this connection was not yet bv any means completed. Mr White said that one important point would bs to watch for the entirely new cases as well as looking after those at present existing. He referred to the advances made in the treatment of crippled children in England and Scotland, and said that the cases in the records of their own society formed a very heterogeneous list. Many of the ’eases were the result of a general condition of malnutrition—a condition which was widespread in all countries —but it should not be so widespread in this country, with its large primary products. There was _no doubt that their society had come into existence at the right moment, and that it was going to do a work of great value to

both the crippled children and the parents of those children. (Applause.) In answer to a question hv the chairman both Dr Newlands and Air White agreed that it would hardly he possible or desirable to make incipient cripple conditions compulsorily notifiable.