DISABLED MEN’S WORK

Southland Times, Issue 23180, 22 April 1937, Page 9

DISABLED MEN’S WORK

British Sailors And Soldiers EXHIBITION /ARRANGED FOR INVERCARGILL As a result of the Great War, England still has on her pensions list the names of 450,000 disabled men, of whom 154,000 are 50 per cent disabled, lacking limbs or organs. The big total of 45,000 men is 80 to 100 per cent disabled, and 8000 are still in hospital, probably never to come out until they die.

In an attempt to help these war cripples, organizations have been working constantly throughout Great Britain. Ambassadors to New Zealand for one of the most successful of the bodies, the Disabled Soldiers and Sailors Mutual Association, are Mr and Mrs H. W. Guy, who left Invercargill yesterday after making arrangements for an exhibition of the work of British disabled sailors and soldiers to be held here in June. During their tour of New Zealand, which will occupy about four months, Mr and Mrs Guy hope to rouse public interest in disabled men here by the exhibition and sale of goods. If they can persuade any group of voluntary workers to form, an organization in this country similar to Riat which they represent, they will supply all information, including details of every process. “The important thing for disabled soldiers and sailors is not 'so much money, as interest,” said Mr Guy in an interview. “Naturally, they want enough funds to keep themselves and their families, but the provision of some occupation is the surest way to restore their cheerfulness and balance. Unfortunately, they are too disabled for monotonous mechanical work in ordinary factories, any they are, of course, quite unfit for hard physical tasks. The problem is to find some effective means of taking their minds off their wounds and troubles.” Largest in the World Accordingly, the S.A.S.M.A., as the voluntary workers on the Mutual Association call their group, began in 1919 its unpretentious textile printing industry. At first only one man was employed, but gradually the business expanded, becoming the largest of its kind in the world. Now there are 50 disabled men at work on an estate near Sheffield—dyeing and hand-painting designs upon silk fabrics. “Among those 50 men there are only 35 arms and 40 legs,” said Mr Guy. “One man has only the first finger and thumb of the left hand left to him.” The factory itself was erected during the war for the purpose of making aeroplane parts. It consists of long sheds from which bungalows radiate. The work, is done in the sheds and the bungalows have been converted for the use of the men and their families. Each home has its little patch of garden. Although the little community suffered with the rest of England during the slump, : .t has been virtually self-sup-ported throughout its existence. The S.A.S.M.A. committee early realized that organizations for returned soldiers relief could not rely alone on the charitable mind of the public. What they marketed must be fit to sell on its merits, not for sentimental reasons. Support of Royalty The goods from the S.A.S.M.A. factory are excellent in quality, and Mr Guy is proud of the fact that he has supplied the association’s goods to practically every titled person in England. Queen Elizabeth when she was Duchess of York bought a coverlet as a wedding present to the Duchess of Gloucester, and Queen Mary is a regular customer. Besides this factory, there were more than 40 other similar schemes in operation in England, said Mr Guy, but organized assistance was available only to a small proportion of disabled men. Many others were employed as carparlung attendants or on jobs that required little exertion, and some were given work by large .firms .which were permitted to use a special King’s seal on their notepaper if they employed at least 10 per cent of disabled men. Nevertheless, there was still an army of wounded returned men who were simply dragging out an existence.