JUBILEE INSTITUTE FAIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18861, 8 November 1924, Page 12

JUBILEE INSTITUTE FAIR.

THE BLIND AT WORK.

STRIKING DEMONSTRATION.

Little children working with swift, skilled fingers at their daily tasks, men weaving, plaiting, handling with sensitive touch tho tools which earned for them a livelihood, a blind canary perched behind the bars of a tiny cage —the pathetic appeal of these sightless ones moved to sympathy and compassion the hearts of many hundreds of Aucklanders who visited the Jubilee Institute Fair yesterday. The occasion was one which afforded ample opportunity for practical expression of sympathy, and the success of the opening day of the fair was most gratifying.

The good work being done at the j Jubilee Institute, where 100 adults and children are being trained, or already ! working for a living, is not known nearly as well as it should be, but from the conspicuous success achieved by the fair, it seems probable that public j interest in this frno institution will j henceforth be much increased. In declaring tho fair open, tho Hon. George Fowlds said its main object was ! to acquaint Aucklanders with tho im- ! portant work which the institute was \ doing on behalf of the blind people of the Dominion. It was hoped that by seeing the actual work going forward, the children at their school tasks, the men at their daily, work, people would be led to take a practical interest in tlie institute, and would extend more liberal patronage. With an increased number of inmates, tho output from the workshops was greater, and it was necessary that the market for these goods should be extended. Additional funds wero required for the erection of fireproof quarters for tho men, and fireproof workshops, and it was hoped that as a result of the fair tlie finances of the institute would be considerably increased.

Interesting Scene. The organisers of the fair were particularly fortunate in the weather, which remained brilliantly fine throughout the afternoon, permitting guests to see the children at outside play as well as indoor work. The scene inside the classrooms was of absorbing interest. Heedless of the throng around them, the children went methodically about their work. Above the busy clicking of typewriters sounded the voice of a little boy reading from & Braille copy of a Dickens' story, and the young voice, chanting alond the adventures of Mi*. Pecksniff, held a qufver of boyish laughter as the sensitive .fingers slid swiftly over the dotted page. The girls knitted, wove tiny bead baskets, worked with plastic clay, added up sums on a frame, while the spectators watched them spellbound. Such industry, such skill would have been commendable in children blessed with every natural advantage - r in those deprived of the moat precious gift of all, it was little short of marvellous. f The assembly hall, turned for the time being into a vory prettily-decorated tearoom, held large crowds throughout the afternoon. Many heard for the first time the fine organ .it contains, the Rev. ;E. Chitty' giving, a number of beaut:!js fully-rendered l selections.. The ladies' •committee very successfully supervised ;the tearoom arrangements.

f ( ' Specimens of Work. :i -One of tho big workshops was arranged as a fair, with sweets, flower, 'produce and basket J stalls. There was {plenty to tempt patrons to liberality, and foremost among the articles offered if or sale was a splendid assortment of 'work turned out by the . blind them- ■ selves, baskets of every kind, mats, "Hammocks, ' beadwork, strawberry chips, arid 'other useful articles. The Victoria .'League, members of the ladies' committee and voluntary workers wore in [charge of various ' stalls. r * In other workshops blind men w'ere (about their accustomed tasks, and deep .interest was taken by the visitors in j-the plaiting, mat-making, cane-weaving, land other work in which they were engaged. Generous support has been given to the fair by Auckland tradespeople and business- firms, - who have made liberal donations a very acceptable gift of produce also having been received from ■;the Auckland Mental Hospital. ■■■ The fair will bo open again this afternoon, when Mr. Chittv "will give an (organ recital. The Garrison Artillery Band will be in ,attendance, and given, another day such as yesterday, tho afternoon should prove an- unqualified success.