CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24336, 28 June 1940, Page 10

CRIPPLED CHILDREN

NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY MEETING OF DUNEDIN BRANCH Tlie annual meeting of the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society (Inc.) last night was presided over by Mr F. W. Mitchell. Good Year’s Work Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet the chairman said: When, five years ago, at the instigation and with the support of Rotary, the society was established, we embarked upop somewhat unknown seas to the extent that we had only some general knowledge of the number of cases that existed in our district or their individual condition, but at the outset it was decided to enlist the aid of existing clinics and professional treatment then available, and to work in close contact with the facilities thus provided. Our approaches were readily responded to, and it is with a strong sense of gratitude and appreciation that we record the great help we have received and the successful outcome, of our joint efforts on behalf of the unfortunate children we have been able to contact. In the surgical staff of the Hospital and the massage department we have received most sympathetic assistance, and it is with pleasure that I record so many children as showing marked improvement from these attentions. I should like to emphasise the great help our finances have received from the efforts of the students at the University on " Capping Day.” After a record collection in 1939, when the great sum of £546 was raised from the “ Give a Penny appeal, it was something of a disappointment that this year of war interrupted this great work. Naturally, the demand tor aid to soldiers was one that nobody would wish to see interfered with, and we congratulate the students on their effort, feeling sure that when this world tragedy is over we shall not appeal to them in vain for a renewal of their help. You will note from the report that all possible methods of treating patients have been adopted, including stays m the country: also that every help m the way of transport tfrom home to hospital, or where necessary from the country and back) s provided, the best skilled treatment is availed of. and everything done to make life easier for these poor children. Quite a satisfactory number have been amenable to cure and others have received great benefit i'ruri treatment; while our greatest effort—to restore the disabled to a place in life where they can feel that they are not helpless encumbrances but are able to learn trades or qualify themselves to take a useful part in society is most encouraging. This applies evemvto those unhappy cases where nothing more than a partial recovery from their disabilities can be looked for. Problem of Finance Seconding the motion. Mr V. S. Jacobs said: During the year two children (very bad cases) have been taught to walk xQr the first time by MisS Walden so that even though we have overspent our income good value has been received, and the results mentioned above fully justify the expenditure. This brings me to the question of finance, and during the war period we will have to face up to a loss of revenue. We have not lost the sympathetic Interest of the students of Otago University, and when circumstances permit we wilL benefit considerably by the practical efforts of the students on Capping Day In face of the prospect of reduced revenue we have postponed indefinitely proposed developments of the special work at toe Hospital. We had considered the building of more suitable temporary premises for bur masseuse and the development of Occupational Therapy, but we will have to make the best we can of our present facilities until the outlook is better. Savings can, and had been, effected In our transport arrangements, and a proposal will come before the new Finance Committee for increasing membership, and if this is adopted many hundreds of new subscribers, at the small fee of 5s annually, will be enrolled.- This will help the finances and widen, at the same time, the circle of our active friends. Those cases affected with spastic paralysis are causing a lot of worry. Some are very bad, not only quite Incurable, but physically helpless, and in many instances. unfortunately, of backward mentality. We are concerned to think what will become of such children when their parents pass away. We are forced to the conclusion that these cases, of whom many have been discovered by crippled children societies throughout the Dominion, should be the care of the State, and an endeavour will be made at the next annual conference of the societies to persuade the State to assume charge of, and make suitable provision in both islands for, these cases. I have had the privilege of seeing. Miss Walden at work in the hospital clinic, I have visited Mrs Holmes at Clyde, and seen the results she has been getting, and I have watched with satisfaction the steady progress made by a number of other children under our care in the past few years. There can be no doubt whatever that our work is justified by the results. „ m I wish to commend the work of Mr T. Conly. of whom th . public hears so little, but who does so much. To him a number of afflicted children are indebted for their employment. Mr Conly and Mr G. Adess are a tower of strength to the society in finding suitable employment for our proteges, and in this connection I must not forget the services of Miss Vial, who takes an active interest in the girls under our care. The most -atisfactory aspect of the society’s work is the unselfish assistance offered by all who are able to help us. Some of those, concerned have been personally .mentioned in the report. It is not possible to record all the many kindnesses extended to the society. The Otago Hospital Board and its staff have backed us up from the beginning, and are just as helpful and interested as ever. The committees of the society, which have carried on with little change in personnel since its inception, have been most loyal and helpful to their chairman and to the administrative officers of the society. Mr Renfrew White commended the work of the society and said it was a tribute' to the imagination and human sympathy of members that they were prepared to continue their work without seeing the . results of their work. Doctors and masseurs and others who saw what was being done, who met the children and their parents, had something to sustain and encourage them. The society was doing a great work, and he was very sorry indeed that the society was losing the services of so eminently desirable a president as Mr Mitchell. The speaker also paid a tribute to the work of Mr Walden Fitzgerald and the teachers of the Massage School, and particularly Miss Roberts, whose influence was being felt not only in Dunedin, but all over New Zealand. The motion was carried. Election of Officers The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patrons—Sir Percy Sargood, Mr A. H. Allen, and Mr F. W. Mitchell; president, Mr V. S. Jacobs: vice-presidents, Messrs J, L. Salmond and H. H. Henderson; council—Messrs G. Simpson. J Hogg. J. R. White, J. Farquharson; Arthur Barnett, W. A. Flavell. J. J. Marlow, T. Conly. S. Dunklev, G. A. Laurenson, P W Stabh, C. V. Smith. H. J. Guthrie. J. C. Shand. G Benson, G. Loue, J. A. Jenkins. R. J. Watts, J. W. Dove, W. R, Brown, G. Adess. Drs C. E. Hercus. W. Newlands. J. A. Thomson, Monsignor Morkane, Miss Farquhar, Miss Roberts, Miss Tomlinson, and Miss Gotts, and two representatives to be appointed by the Otago Trades and Labour Council: honorary solicitors, Messrs J. S. Sinclair and W R. Brugh; honorary treasurer. Mr W. R. Brown: honorary auditor, Mr George Hoss; secretary, Mr R. S. M. Sinclair.