APPEAL FOR THE BLIND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16715, 22 April 1922, Page 8

APPEAL FOR THE BLIND.

£45,000 WANTED.

NEW ZEALAND’S EFFORT.

“ Shut your eyes—tight—keep them shut for a couple of minutes. Now—with your eyes still closed—walk around the room, or better still try and do something. Imagine that you are condemned to this darkness for the rest of your life ; then when you open them again be thankful for the magnifioent God-given gift of sight. There are about 600 blind men and women in Nexv Zealand. Some have been bom blind; some hare lost their sight in adult life; some have families dependent on them ; some of them are in despair.

Yet they need not be. Sir Arthur Pearson—that great blind leader—by bis work at St Dunetan’s, where the blinded soldiers have been brought back from the gulfs of despair* to Ive and useful service, has shown the way out. Tho blind can be trained if the people of New Zealand will help to provide equipment. v We want £45,000, the Government will subsidise this with £55,000- —that is for each £1 contributed, the Government will give £1 4s. It will be Sir Arthur Pearson’s memorial in New Zealand. The whole amount will be invested and the income spent in aiding the blind in New Zealand.

To raise this amount an organisation has been formed under tho patronage of his Excellency the Governor-General, the vice-presidency of the Mayors of Christchurch and the other chief cen t-res, with Mr Clutha Mackenzie, M.P.. as chairman.

Please send n subscription to-day to Mr H. R. Smith, Town Clerk, City Council Chambers, Christchurch (treasurer). or to Mr G- L, Donaldson, Art Gallery, Armagh Street, Christchurch (secretary).

However great your need, the need of these afflicted ones is yet greater. Please help. 4266