N.Z. ST. DUNSTAN’S

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18256, 27 November 1933, Page 2

N.Z. ST. DUNSTAN’S

BLINDED SOLDIERS

GOOD WORK IN DOMINION

The magnificent wolk of St. Dunstan’s, London, for British blinded soldiers was recently commented upon in the press in Connection with the publication of its eighteenth annual report—a report which told how 2000 war blinded men had passed under its care to be re-educated and re-established in useful citizenship. Speaking about the work, Mr. Olutha Mackenzie, St. Dunstan’s official representative in New Zealand, paid the organisation a glowing tribute for the manner iif which its founder arid leader. Sir Arthur Pearson, himself a blind man, had taken each blinded soldier in 1 hand immediately he came into hospital from the trenches so that from the out set ho might never become depressed and look upon bis future hopes and life as blasted and useless. They were shown how methods could be adapted to enable them to follow their old occupations or. if that was not possible, they were trained to new. St. Dunstan’s vibrated with the spirit of vigorous accomplishment—concentrated technical courses. Braille, typewriting, music, games and active social life ensured no dull or idle moment. The result is that throughout the Empire there are few more useful citizens as a body than the ex-soldiers, sailors and airmen of S’t. Dunstan’s. Mr. Mackenzie spent three years in daily companionship with Sir Arthur, who made his war-time homo with the blinded officers. A more virile, delightful companion, it would have been difficult to find, and certainly none better able to set the shattered soldier on the path to conquest. Discussing the matter of the Dominion’s blinded soldiers, Mr Mackenzie said that 24 had lost their sight in the war. Of these 23 had been trained at St. .Dunstan’s, though three of these had later taken courses of training at the New Zealand institute.

The St. Dunstan’s report records with regret that the toll of war blindness is not yet ended and that 27 new men came to St. Dunstan’s for training last year. Unfortunately this also lias been New Zealand’s experience. Since the Armistice nine New Zealand soldiers have lost their sight as the direct consequence of war service, three of them in the last two years. The work of training them to meet their new- con ditions is willingly carried out by the New Zealand institute as part, of its duty to the blind community as a whole. The institute lias at the present time four blinded soldiers in permanent employment or training, while another is a member'of the board of trustees. Library and various other services are extended to all blinded Soldiers in the Dominion and constant touch maintained with them. Five are masseurs, five are dairy or poultry farming, one is a minister of religion, and four are employed at the institute. A number, because of ill - health arising frtm their wounds, cannot tube rip active full time occupation, but do their best about their trim homos to be useful.

The commercial travellers of New Zealand have made the blinded soldiers their special interest and control a .fund which has done yeoman service in helping .them and their families in their difficulties. Since the war nine have died, mostly from their wounds, leaving in several instances widows and children, who merit much sympathy and assistance in View of the fact that the war pension practically ceases at the death of the soldier.