DISAPPOINTING LETTER

Northern Advocate, 13 July 1936, Page 4

DISAPPOINTING LETTER

FROM CRIPPLED CHILDREN’S SOCIETY

“I think that the board should express disappointment at receiving a letter of this kind,” said the chairman of the Whangarei Hospital Board, Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay, this morning, when a communication was received from the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children’s Society, dealing with the case of three crippled children at Tutukaka. The secretary of the branch, Mr G. J. Park, wrote: “I have been informed of a family of three crippled boys of Tutukaka. Two of these boys are unable to take their own weight and they have to be assisted with their arm round someone’s neck. Most of the heavy burden falls on their mother, and I understand that the family is unable to supply wheel chairs. This would seem cbvious from the fact that the boys are 18 years and 16 years of age, and yet they have never had this provision made. “The Crippled Children’s Society feels that it is the responsibility of the local hospital board to provide such aids, and I would be glad to know whether your Hospital Board takes the same view. Will you please advise me for the benefit of the executive of this branch?”

Mr Mac Kay said that the society was the organisation expected to keep crippled children and this should be pointed out. He moved on these lines, and Mr A. J. McKay seconded the proposition.

The chairman said that the society was constituted to assist . crippled children, but had done nothing for these boys. Much more than wheeled chairs was required. The boys, with normal arms, should be taught to do something, and they would be able to do some work with their hahds. It was hoped that the society would have been able to do something in this direction, and, for that reason, the cases were brought under its notice.

In reply to Mr Barclay, the chairman said that no children in Northland had yet been helped by the society, but had asked that a local committee be formed to bring under its notice all cases.

This committee, had been formed at the request of the society merely for the purpose of collecting information and passing it on. The motion was carried. Mr F. Higginson wss appointed hospital board delegate to the local committee.