FUND FOR THE BLIND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18317, 6 February 1923, Page 8

FUND FOR THE BLIND.

RE-STATEMENT OF OBJECTS.

REACHING THE OBJECTIVE.

ATTAINMENT' THIS YEAR. IBS

XKLBOjaAFB.—PUBSa . ASSOCIATION.] • i " CHRISTCHURCH, ; Monday.' . ; : Mr." Clutha, Mackenzie, . the promoter of the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial .Fund for the Blind in New Zealand, explained the. present position of the fund to the Christchurch committee to-day. He said it was hoped that the final objective would bo reached within eight or nine months. There was evidently some misapprehension concerning the disposition • of the fund, but there had been, he said, no departure whatever from the original intention. There were . a great many cases to be dealt with, and these fell into at least three classes—(l) children who were born blind and who needed a specialised institute for instruction; (2) adult blind, many of whom would require to be taught at their own homes by.. voluntary teachers, while others would have to go to a proper school; (3).' the aged blind who would require to be taught at home. Social ' committees could supervise the arrangements for voluntary teachers. He hoped these would be blinded soldiers and civilians • assisted by others who took an interest in the work. When a blind person was sent to the Jubilee Institute for the Blind at Auckland -it did not mean that the' Pearson Fund was called upon to bear the; expense; The amount was paid -by "the institute. This should be very clearly understood. •' . The Auckland institute had been long established, and it would not be economical '.to..' establish another institution. s :Only *75 people attended. thp Auckland institute. Forty-five of these were adults,"most of whom did not reside inrthe institute. t Mr. Martin said Mr. Mackenzie's statement would greatly assist the committee in raising the remainder of its quota. ; Mr. Fairbairn said he felt the greatest sympathy with the noble work done by Mr. Mackenzie. - Mr. Mackenzie, who was received with applause, thanked the members for their help. The approval of Canterbury had procured - support for the movement throughout New Zealand, and he felt that the additional £20,000 required would be raised. ' ' "'. v '

CAMPAIGN IN, NORTH ISLAND.

AUCKLAND APPEAL IN APRIL. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ' \'v ;■■ * : CHRISTCHUBCH. Monday. t Explaining the further programme in the appeal for funds for the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund for the Blind, the promoter, Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, said he had been asking for further efforts. Arrangements had been made with practically, all the North Island towns, and it was hoped that the final objective would be "reached within eight or nine months. April had been selected for the campaign in Auckland City. ' An immense war memorial scheme had! been hanging over at ; Auckland for Borne time. A sum of £200,000 had to bo raised, and this had kijled the prospects of any other efforts. Leading firms in Auckland had been canvassed(before the slump and had promised euros; of £500 or £1000 to the war memorial fund, but the "slump" came before they redeemed these promises in cash. •A number of meetings of New Zealand committees had been held before it had hem decided to hand over any money to the trustees of the Jubilee • Institute i for the Blind for investment. ' The Pearson fund, it should be clearly understood, was a permanent endowment. Only the interest was to be used for the purposes of the ? fund' and the interest on the amount to •be > raised ,would be about £5700 annually. I ! I The total amount so far reci)l/ed or promised was a few shillings under £25,000. The actual cash' received was £19,167 7s 2d, and of this, £16,660 had been invested. A sum of £1698 9s 3d had been handed over to the Jubilee Institute, incidental expenses amounted to I £286 7s : sd, and cash in hand to £49 17s lid. .Mr. A. Fairbairn ' said that, while it was understood that the fund was primarily , for the civilian blind, he . thought it would be wrong that blind soldiers should be excluded from all the benefits of the .fund.':"■•';■■" : v;v' ; ■--'■■•'•'s -'' :: '/"; '■■■*.. ..■ v ; '';*.- The Mayor, Dr. H. .T. J. Thacker. said that some people objected to the commanding position which they considered had been given to Auckland in the disposition of the fund. ;■ ' ■'." ' V Mrs. Bean paid that since there was already an institute for the blind at Auckland it seemed only right. that : that city should be the centre for the instruction of the blind. . • . ' " . I The Mayor said the original idea had' been that schools of -instruction should j be inaugurated in all the chief towns. During the discussion Mrs. Bean said, she had been struck .by the large amount of money raised and V the : very i small amount of expenses. The promoters had done very well indeed.