CARE OF CRIPPLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24050, 22 August 1941, Page 9

CARE OF CRIPPLES

NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY APPRECIATION OF WORK LADY NEWALL'S SYMPATHY [BV TKLKGHAI'H —IMtKSS ASSOCIATION'] WELLING TON, Thursday hen declaring open the annual meeting of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society in Wellington to-day, Lady Newall disclosed that she had been stricken at the age of three by infantile paralysis and was cured. Delegates would appreciate her very real sympathy with and understanding oi their work, site said, when she told them that she could speak with deep personal interest and gratitude because ot that experience. Her Excellency, who is patroness of the society, was welcomed to the meeting by the president, Sir Charles Norwood. Lady N'enall congratulated the organisers, members, doctors and children of the society on the progress made and wished the society and the meeting the greatest, possible success. .Moving the adoption of the annual report, Sir Charles said it must bo a great pleasure to everyone to know that the organsiation had proceeded on such businesslike lines on the one hand and i nsuch a humane way on the other. No branches had been any other than most careful in the expenditure of funds. Minister's Congratulations

'J lie .Minister of Health. tlio Hon. A. H. Xordmeyer. congratulated the society on the work it had done in the six years of its existence. Whatever might he the functions of the Government, whatever might lie the future of medical practice anil health services generally in New Zealand, he said, there would always he a place for institutions like the Crippled Children Society. ''You bring to hear." said the .Minister. "an individuality of approach that no State department can possibly bring. 1 hope, therefore, that there is going to be a wide and increasing sphere of usefulness for the society." The society had accomplished much in the period of its existence, he said. The growth of membership, the number of branches, the number of children on the registers and the sprejid of its influence must be very pleasing to the Rotary movement and the public-spirited men and women who had formed the society and assisted it in carrying out its work. Paralysis and Tuberculosis

Two great crippling diseases, infantile paralysis and tuberculosis, presented formidable problems, said the .Minister, hut the future was not without hope. Although the medical service had not yet solved the mystery of infantile paralysis, it had achieved much to alleviate its often crippling effects by skilled orthopaedic treatment .

"I arn anxious that we should wage war against the terrible evil of tuberculosis.'' ssidi Mr. Xordmeyer. "1 am satisfied that with drive we can elimiuaie a great deal of the incidence of tuberculosis in this country. Many children who are crippled would be saved from that state if the people and the State were to embark on a crusade for the elimination of tuberculosis from our land." Election of Officers

The following officers were elected: Patroness, Her Excellency. Lady Xewall; president. Sir Charles Norwood; executive council, Mr. F. Campbell (Wellington), chairman, Sir Alexander Roberts (Wellington), Brigadier F. T. Bowerbank (Wellington). Dr. A. Gillies (Wellington). Messrs. J. M. A. Ilntt (Wellington). B. R. Pobbs (Wanganni). W. G. Black (Palmerston North), S. L. P. Free (MastertoiO. M. Eraser (Wellington). E. W. Runt (Wellington), J. Iv. Edie (associate member). AT. E. Furbv (Canterbury); honorary solicitors. Messrs. I'. C. K pratt and H. Taylor; honorary treasurer. Mr E. W. Hunt; honorary auditor, Mr. W. H. Xnnkervis. The meeting will continue to-mor-row morning.