HARD OF HEARING

Southland Times, Issue 21656, 18 March 1932, Page 7

HARD OF HEARING

ALLEVIATION OF EFFECTS. LEAGUE TO BE FORMED. “The blind people in New Zealand are well looked after, but they are few in comparison with the hard of hearing, many of them bread-winners,” said Dr J. Hardie Neil at a meeting held in the Auckland University buildings under the auspices of the 8.M.A., for the purpose of explaining the need for the formation of a league for the hard of hearing. Sir George Fowlds presided. The principal speaker was Mrs G. A. Hurd—Wood, who said the public did not realize the extent to which people suffered from defeats of hearing, and it had been decided to make an appeal for the formation of a league. It would help people hard of hearing to take their place in the world just as if they had their full faculties. Leagues were established in other countries, and she had seen the excellent work they did. . The bad effects of the disability on the character were most marked, and the leagues taught the victims to lead brighter and happier lives. They were not charitable institutions, nor were they run for the purpose of making money. The members paid a nominal subscription, but were impressed with the prime necessity of helping themselves, the work being mainly educative. In New 7 Zealand the supporters of the idea wished to establish an institution in which the public would have the fullest confidence, as it would have to depend on the public for support. At first a headquarters would be established in Auckland, and then branches would be formed in various parts of the Dominion, to be linked up with headquarters. Dr J. Hardie Neil, Dr Ada Paterson and Dr E. Robertson warmly commended the project. Dr Neil said 60 per cent, of the deaf acquired their disability before the age of three; the danger period was up to the age of ten years. ■ Dr E. Robertson remarked that in all that had been said there had been reference only to the education of the person affected, but he thought an equally valuable and necessary work would be B the education of many people to speak more plainly and clearly. Many people had to suffer from the bad speaking of persons in public places. In the primary school, the secondary schools and the private secondary schools he noticed great slovenliness in the teaching speech; pupils were allowed to get into bad methods that ultimately developed into bad habits of speech. It was the slovenly speakers that needed instruction just as much as the hard of hearing. The meeting endorsed the idea of forming a league.

A league has since been formed at a public meeting held in Auckland, nearly 100 members being enrolled.