THEIR WAR EFFORT

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3106, 15 April 1942, Page 3

THEIR WAR EFFORT

BLIND BRITISH WORKERS

NOVEL SHORTHAND MACHINES

Government offices in London are now employing blind stenographers and typists. They take down their shorthand on machines which prick out the characters on long strips of paper. These notes are then transcribed on the typewriter by touch. All told there are about 250 blind stenographers and typists at work in Britain, many of them with local authorities. Some 220 others have been trained as telephone operators, a number of whom are employed by the Ministry of Labour, the Air Ministry and by private firms.

In several cities throughout Britain 3750 blind men and women are turning out from special factories - big quantities of products to help the war effort. Wicker baskets for bread and special ones for carrying Armi field signalling equipment are being supplied to the Forces. Baskets are also being made for the Red Cross, hospitals and A.R.P. services.

Britain’s Ministry of Supply has given a good deal of contract work to the blind, including contracts for thousands of special baskets for carrying bottles of chemicals and drugs. Brushes and brooms go to the forces, too.