PENSIONS FOB BLIND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18722, 30 May 1924, Page 6

PENSIONS FOB BLIND.

COMPLAINT OF ; NEGLECT. X , vr . * 5 v MEMBERS APPROACHED. , •• 1 .: •>' V .. • - ' SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION fBY TELEGBAPH. —OWN" CORTUCSrOKIIENT.] CHRISTCHI'JRCH. Thursday. At a meeting of thti" Canterbury members of Parliament, held to-day, Mr. C. A. Bloomfield . attended ; and brought up the question of provision for the civilian blind. He said two petitions had been sent to the Government on, the subject. Mr. ; Massey had promised that legislation would be introduced " in 1 1921. ;■■■ Nothing, however, was done. • The blind people; Mr. Bloomfield thought, had proved their case, and It was not necessary for him to prove it all over again. What he wished to point out was that repeated promises had not been carried out. The reason given/was the J financial stress through which the country had passed, but why should the heaviest burden be left on those who were least able to bear it ? The Sir Arthur Pearson fund could never meet the position. It would assist only a portion of the people who were blind. The Jubilee Institute did not provide a permanent home, and the inmates had to pay. The position therefore was that the blind in this country were receiving no assistance, and no provision was made for their needs. Mr. Bloomfield said that under any circumstances a pension was necessary. It would provide a basis of income and give the blind man some incentive to work. Mr. L. M. Isitt, M.P., said the members would do their best in the House of Representatives to support any legislation that would afford relief to the blind;