TOY MAKERS' ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17064, 24 July 1917, Page 8

TOY MAKERS' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING. The ; first'annual mooting of tno Toymakcrs' Association, composed for the main part of ladies tleuply interested in engaging the attention of invalided soldiers in hospital m D-unc-dm in .pursuits that would enablo tnem to some extent at least to forget their troubles of body or mind, was held in the iiospital boara rooms yesterday atternoon. Ihe Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) presided, and there was a lair muster of ladies, while two or three guiitlemen put in an appearance. Ihe report eet out tho following iacts:-r J. no association was iormed on Juiy 6, 1916', with the prune object of helpmg our returned soldiers. Wo wanted to teach them some little industry wjucu would not only lighten the teoium of convalescence, but wmch would, by its educative and healing influence, neip them to regain their natural poise Wo began in tho military ward ol the Hospital -with a class lor basket work under Miss Webster and Miss Maoassey, later adding rug-mak.ng, under Mrs Clapl porton. it has not been possible to keep statistics of the men thus helped,' but some ot tno work done has been ot a high quality, and several orders have been received. Homo oi tno goods made have been sold to buy material lor further work, others have benm given by the men to their friends or to various stalls for patriotic purposes. Our material for this branch of our work has cost us £25 Is 3d. We have received in payment lor goods £21 14e. Miss Webster has paid seven visits to the Pleasant Valley banatorium, and much good and useful basket work lias been done by tno patients ihere, tno Hospital Board kindly supplyine- the material. When the men kaTthe Hc£ pital they are free to do what they will with the knowledge thus gained. One man &as added about £10 to his income by continuing the work in his own house. At the request of the Government, Miss Webster paid a visit to Rotorua to start the same work in the Sanatorium there, and so convinced was the Government that tho work S* d? 1 ? 1 h to the men that Mies Webster, has been engaged by it to visit the different hospitals and sanatoria ot the dominion. She therefore resigned her connection with us. Our work is still earned on by Miss Macassey, who continues ! to help not only the' men in the military ward, but any otker patient who may desire her help m this direction. We regret ex•oeedingly that we have not yet done tnintf m the way of toy-making. We had Hoped to have started a little industry with men who have left the Hospital, and who were not yet? discharged from the service. We have on our committee two expert tovGether and MissJenson. ■they have offered their services in a very liberal manner. The work was tried in the Hospital, but ineffectually, and out of the ttospital we have not yet been able to get bold of the men. We are hoping'tnat our failure, to start the toy industry is only temporary, and that as more men return they will be able to regain some of their health and strength in this educative occupation. One blind soldier in the Hospital has, been taught Braille, by Mrs Hudson, and proved' a most satisfactory pupil. He also employed his time in weaving cane baskets ,and was most grateful for the Kelp h f received from the association. We are glad to know that he has largely regained the use of his sight. The report went on to speaking of other cases, and states that ?* J> °- had been enlarged. l>r Bowie moved the adoption of the repprt and. balance sheet. He referred to one instance of a wounded soldier who nad beenjseriously affected by his wounds. When tjnat man had got something to take up his attention'he had forgotten his troubles, and had v gone home and was now in* an occupation. . That was one case among many where the Toy Makers' Association had done good work. He had the greatest pleasure in moving the adoption of the report, and said that he did not know where greater. or better work was being done, for returned wounded men. Mr M. Cohen seconded the motion, and made brief reference to toy-making by soldiers trom an outside uoint of view - He referred to an outdoor entertainment at fat. Clair, which had 'been held under disadvantageous circumstances. At that entertainment the results of the soldiers' efforts had been easily disposed of. He congratulated the association • upon the success attending its first year's operations, and expressed - a hope that its future would be highly prosperous. ' • Mr Hamel spoke in support of the movement. The report and balance sheet were adopted. v ■ The following office-bearers were electedpresident, Miss Kelsey; hon. secretary and treasurer,. Miss Lethbridge; Women's Advisory Committeet-Mrs Butterworth, Miss Macassey, Miss Gether, Mrs Clapperton, Miss Lmson Miss Barron; Men's Advisory Committee—The Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) the chairman of ths Hospital Board (Mr W.:_B. S. -Knight), Messrs W. T. TaUwys, -JF- ,? amel > and w - S. Wilson Ihe Mayor having- offered bis congratulations to the president for the work already crone, votes of thanks were accorded to the Hospital Board for the use of the room and to those constituting the association for the interest taken, by-them in the welfare of soldiers in hospital. v - ' •'