BLIND SOLDIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 13

BLIND SOLDIERS

ST. DUNSTAN'S CHAIRMAN VISIT OF SIR lAN FRASER TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND A blind member of the House of Commons, and chairman of St. Dunstan's Hostel for Blinded Soldiers and Sailors, Sir lan Fraser, accompanied by Lady Fraser and their daughter Jeaiu agdd about 14, will arrive at Auckland by the Aorangi ou September 30. They will visit New Zealand on their way to the Melbourne Centenary celebrations. Sir lan is of forceful personality, and Lady Fraser, who gave the former chairman of St. Dunstan's, tl>3 late Sir Arthur Pearson, great assistance in his work for the blind, also is of outstanding personality. They are particularly interested in the welfare of New Zealand blind soldiers, most of whom were trained under Sir Arthur Pearson at St. Dunstan's, which has kept in touch with them since.

A civic reception will be tendered to Sir lan and Lady Fraser by tho Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, at noon on October 1. Sir lan will then be the guest and speaker at a luncheon given by the Auckland Rotary Club, ami in the evening he will give a talk from IYA. He is keenly interested in broadcasting, and has been associated with its development in Great Britain.

The following afternoon the visitors will meet Auckland blind soldiers and their wives at a tea organised bv the Commercial Travellers' Blinded Soldiers' Fund, and that evening they will be accorded an official reception at the New Zealand Institute for the Blind.

The director of the institute, Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, who represents St. Dunstan's in New Zealand, will accompany the visitors on a tour of the main centres of the Dominion. Sir lan will meet the blind soldiers and also will be the guest of a number of clubs and societies interested in blind welfare work.

At the conclusion of the tour, Sir lan and Lady Fraser will spend a holiday visiting sheep stations and Rotorua. Sir lan takes great pleasure in riding, rowing, swimming and walking, and hopes to enjoy some of these pursuits in New Zealand and have a quiet rest from his busy political life in London.

When they leave for Australia by the Niagara on October 30. Sir lan and Lady Fraser will be accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Clutha Mackenzie. Sir lan and Mr. Mackenzie will attend an Empire blind soldiers' conference to be held during the Centenary celebrations.