AID FOR THE DEAF

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11768, 15 October 1932, Page 5

AID FOR THE DEAF

N.Z. LEAGUE FORMED,

FOUNDER IN GISBORNE

AIMS AND OBJECTS OUTLINED.

Aiming to extend the activities of the "New Zealand League for the Hard of Hearing to this district,, the rounder and honorary organiser, Airs G. A. Hurd-Smith ,of Auckland, arrived in Gisborne last evening. The League is of recent formation, actually it was initiated on March. 16 last, but already splendid progress has been made and much valuable work l is being performed. The aims and objects, Airs. HurdSmith explained to a Times representative last evening, are as follow : To improve the outlook for tho totally or partially deafened adults; to reduce the ill-effects of deafness to a minimum; to encourage deafened and liard. of hearing people to realise and face their disability, which after all’is a very definite step in overcoming any difficulty; Io accustom deafened and hard of hearing people to pursue their accustomed means of livelihood, with a minimum of inconvenience to their employers, the public and themselves; to eliminate quackery (so far as it concerns deafness); and to co-oper-ate with the New Zealand Government in dealing with the prevention of deafness in children.

The means to he employed, Airs. Hurd-Smith pointed out, are the teaching of lip-reading, demonstration of mechanical and electrical hearing aids, re-education of ears, provision of recreation aud fostering of a spirit of sociability, assistance in finding employment, lor the deafened and hard of hearing and tho provision of books and pamphlets which are published by organisations for the hard of hearing. As far as the immediate objective of the league is concerned, Airs. II urd-Smitli commented, a programme for Hie six months ending ou A larch I, 1933, has been drawn up. Under this it, is intended to teach lip-reading to those who become beneficiaries of the league, to train three teachers to give instruction iu lip reading, to organise a literature club for members in outlying districts. to make an appeal ior funds and to conduct, various social activities.

Airs. Hurd-Smith further explained that the league had been in existence in other countries for 20 years and wonderful work had been performed Summed up the. league could be said to work under three general headings, each dependent on the others, those being of educational, social and economic value. If had been reliably estimated that about 8 per cent, oi the population of New Zealand were hard of hearing, therefore the importance ot the work was obvious aud the league desired to help those afflicted as the Institute for the Blind helped those who had lost their sight. A public address will be given by Alrs. Ilurd-Smith in. tho Borough Council Chambers at 8 o’clock on .Monday night and a cordial invitation is extended to all interested to attend. The Ala.vox (Air. I). A. Coleman, AI.'P.) will preside.