CRIPPLED CHILDREN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22094, 27 April 1935, Page 8

CRIPPLED CHILDREN

SCHEME JN AUSTRALIA £50.000 FROM LORD NUFFIELD The Australian Minister of Health. Mr. W. M. Hughes, said recently that the Commonwealth Government had approved of a scheme for the distribution of the gift -of £50,000 made by Lord Nuffield for the care and treatment of crippled children. Replying to a'question by Mr. Street '(U.A.P., Victoria), in the House of Representatives, Mr. Hughes said the £50.000 would be vested in the Minister of Health as trustee,, and interest and capital would fee spent gradually over a period of five or .10 years, to build up in each State a sound and effectively co-ordinated scheme. Steps would bo taken to ensure that further income was available. 'lt was felt that the Rotary Clubs and other organisations could be induced to co-operate. The fund would be expended by the Minister, acting on the advice of a council, to be known as The Council of Advice," which would consist of the Director-General of Health, chairman, representatives of hospitals and associations interested in the welfare of crippled children, and a nominee of the British Medical Association. The Direc-tor-General of Health would visit each State as soon as possible to interview the bodies interested, to inspect the existing institutions, and to consult medical associations. It is understood that there will be three main activities —the tracing of cripples and insuring that they are receiving the most effective treatment; the actual treatment, for which probably,the existing medical and hospital services of each will be used; and some form of voluntary welfare organisation to find employment for crippled children when ;they reach the schoolleaving age. ;