CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1935, Page 7

CRIPPLED CHILDREN

DOMINION PROGRAMME ARRANGEMENTS FOR TREATMENT. MEETING AT NEW PLYMOUTH. , MANY NEW SOCIETY MEMBERS. Plans to help the crippled children of New Plymouth were outlined at a public meeting in St. Mary’s.hall, New Plymouth, last night when the Mayor (Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour) presided over an attendance of 70, including representatives of organisations concerned with welfare movements. Keen interest was shown in the programme of the NewZealand Crippled Children’s Society, to which Lord Nuffield recently presented £60,000 as the nucleus of a fund, and a number of those present became life members or annual members of the New Plymouth branch of the society. ' Mr. W. H. Jones, president of the New Plymouth Rotary Club and a member of the committee of the branch, said that the formalities connected with the launching of the branch had already been disposed of. A meeting last' - week had appointed provisional officers who would act until June 30. As soon after that date as possible members of the branch would have the opportunity of electing officers at the annual meeting. Mr. Jones quoted the objects of the society which,, he. said, was formed to help crippled and malformed ' children, not only by the provision of specialised curative treatment' but alsd by giving them educational. facilities and chances to make their way in life. Mr. Jones acknowledged the great work of the late Mr. T. C. List in launching the movement. Inspired with zeal by what he had seen done for crippled children abroad, Mr. List had returned to New Zealand convinced of the need for similar work in the Dominion. As District Governor of Rotary he had persuaded the clubs to foster the movement. Mr. Jones felt, therefore, that the movement would not be allowed to languish at New Plymouth, Where Mr. List had lived. Mrs. List was a member of the first committee of the branch and would thus help to carry on the work commenced by her husband. Miss M. Cormack, who was Mr. List’s secretary, had consented to act as secretary of' the branch.

A preliminary survey of Taranaki schools had already disclosed a number of children who would benefit through the work of the society. In announcing that the fee for annual membership Was 5s and for life membership £5 ss, Mr. Jones said he hoped there would be a ready response from the public. He pointed out that there were about 5000 crippled children in New Zealand. While the Government did a good deal to help them, there were many unable to take advantage of the facilities for treatment offered. It was an object of the society to see that every child was provided with facilities for treatment. Already there were several life of the society at New Plymouth and only that morning a man had forwarded a subscription because he was “mindful of the help' he himself had received in the early years of his affliction.” Mr. Jones stressed the .need for, a strong membership. He said it would be difficult to invest Lord Nuffield’s £60,000 at mote than 3J per cent., and it Was not a large sum to spread over the whole of New Zealand. • • 1 /' • ' .

Dr. G. Home, president of 'the New Plymouth branch, as a medical man. indicated some of the ways in” Which the scheme would benefit crippled children. Quoting from a pamphlet on* the subject, he said that the'sooo crippled children in New Zealand were .being added to at the rate of 500 a year.: In addition there were many children who were not heard about, especially ~ those living in the country or belonging to poorer parents. Treatment was often long, sometimes extending over months and even years, and, it was work for a highly' skilled staff with expensive appliances. Parents in poor circumstances therefore often hesitated at the expense of' taking their children to the specially equipped centres. IMPROVED TREATMENT. Surgical knowledge had greatly developed during the Great Wai - and methods of treatment had been revised and improved, With the result that cases formerly considered hopeless could be treated successfully. It was important that the medical men with intensive war experience should have the opportunity not only of treating the children-needing their attention, but also of passing their knowledge on to other doctors who would be carrying on ’the Work., In order to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number it was essential that there should be no parochialism. Centralisation of highly skilled staffs and equipment was rfecessary at, • say one centre in each island. '. Dr. Home mentioned the remarkable curative effects of sunlight treatment and instanced cases of children whose, successful treatment had resulted in their being accepted later as fit for service in the Great War. Spinal tuberculosis would be treated, the last-named disease being prp-eminently a case for the institutions it was proposed to set up. Education was parallel to and part of the treatment. Most crippled children had extraordinary mental powers ana were capable of wonderful work with both their hands and their heads. President Roosevelt and Miss Mona Leydon were examples of sufferers from infantile paralysis who had overcome their afflictions by grit and perseverance. Miss Leydon had taken up swimming as a remedy and had become a champion. First of all it would be necessary to make a complete survey of the whole population to discover the number of crippled children; said Dr. Home. Organisations that could help in this direction included the Education Department, school medical officers, Red Cross Society, District Nurse Association and Plunket Society, the last-named being in a position to discover crippled children., at a period of .physical and mental development when they were specially responsive to treatment. Dr. Home asked the people to give the movement their interest, practical sympathy and odd shillings. Mr. R. W. D. Robertson pointed out that one object of the society was to watch the interests of crippled children who otherwise would find it difficult to obtain employment. He understood that neither the Civil Service nor the Education Department would employ persons who were crippled. The society wanted to give those people a chance in life. The Mayor said he hoped the people of New Plymouth would rally round the movement.