GIFT FOR CHILDREN

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1935, Page 9

GIFT FOR CHILDREN

PROPOSED METHOD OF CONTROL. LETTER FROM MR. NORWOOD. In a letter to the Mayor of New Plymouth, Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour, Mr. C. J. B. Norwood explained proposed methods oi control of the distribution of Lord Nuffield’s gift of £50,000 for crippled children. Lord Nuffield’s gift was without conditions, wrote Mr. Norwood, provided only that the fund should' be national in character. It was intended to help every child, in whatever remote district it might be. The Rotary clubs of New Zealand had done much work in bringing to light the location and numbers of those who were in need of care, and a close study of the problem led them to recommend the importance of a national organisation, operating through district organisations, which it was intended should immediately be set up in every city and town throughout New Zealand. “It is their recommendation also,” continued the letter, “that the local associations should be formed on as wide a basis as possible, members subscribing 5s a year, and it is hoped that the national fund will be sufficient to create grants that will assure the maximum result to any crippled child in the respective districts. A trust, of course, will require t- be created which will' be above suspicion and whicl\ will provide a condition whereby the operations can be perpetuated.”

Mr. Norwood stated that Lord Nuffield himself had financed an organisation in England which was turning out about 250 of these unfortunates a year, who were capable of normal occupation and who would otherwise have been a continual burden on the community. It was regrettable that by far the larger percentage were to be found in the poorer homes. It was also regarded by the investigating committee, Mr. Norwood continued, that there should be an endeavour to prevent overlapping and the duplication of expenses, by complete utilisation, so far as was physically possible, of the services provided by the Health Department.

“I wish it to be clearly understood that I am outlining the deliberations of a number of capable men who set themselves this task, and I am in no way committed except beyond an endeavour to see, that economic and efficient control is secured.”