HELPING THE BLIND

Waikato Independent, Volume XXV, Issue 2522, 15 September 1925, Page 3

HELPING THE BLIND

THE PEAESON MEMOEIAL EUND. PRACTICAL WOKK BEING DONE.

It' will bo remembered tluxt in 1923, as a result of the appeal of Mr C.lutha Mackenzie, Cambridge district contributed the sum of £B3 5/5 to the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial, Fund, the practical purpose of which was to further assist the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland, in. its work of caring for the blind people of the Dominion. It is fitting, therefore, that we should publish the following account supplied by Mr Mackenzie of the actual manner in which the fund is being expended:— The total contributions from nil parts of the Dominion now amount to £40,161 17/3. The Government has contributed £IO,OOO in .part payment of subsidy, and has promised a further £lO,000 this year. The present invested capital is £49,081 5/, the total cost of raising the fund being the remarkably small figure of £679 14/2. The capital is, of course, now administered by the trustees of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind for the purposes for which it was raised.

The first steps taken were the establishment in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin of Advisory Committees under the chairmanship of the Mayors-in-office, for the purpose of represent-, ing the institute and the investigation and assistance of cases within these districts. In addition, branches of the Pod Cross Society and various Rotary Clubs have always placed their services most readily at the disposal of the trustees. In addition, it was found necessary as a basis on which to work, to enrol the blind people, and with as full particulars of their cases.as could be •secured, in a register —a work by no means easy. At the moment 43(5 cases are fully registered, and it is expected that probably about 200 cases still remain to be discovered. The register has revealed very many tragedies —fathers of families losing their sight, earning power gone, savings absorbed in medical expenses and the family plunged into poverty and hopelessness; small children who have "lost their sight by accident or illness, or who have never seen at all, kept at home by ill-advised parents to grow up in ignorance and uselessness; old people, their vision gone, living entirely alone, still clinging to the old huts so long their homes, in fact every case holds its deep tragedy, if no more than that of a life once full of hope and happiness cut off front all the glory of the world, the joy of literature and the freedom of movement once so valued. What can we do for them? Each has its problem. But in almost every case we can find sonic way, oven though small, of giving a little help and a little brightness. .

The children, of course, are soon packed off to the institute to go through the. ordinary school training and to be taught the usual things

which make a child a normal, useful citizen. Many adults can adapt themselves to carrying on their old occupations without a great deal of difficulty, yet it is often necessary to give them financial help, and for this purpose loans and grants varying from £SO to £SOO have been made. Here is the actual list of the cases helped:— Piano-tuners and repairers, 9; bas-ket-makers, 8; arts, divinity, law and massage students, 4; dairy farmers, 4; poultry farmers, 2; masseurs, 2; repatriated to our country, 2; maintenance of homes, 2; boardinghouse-kceper, professional pianist, teacher, grocer,, grit manufacturer, bead worker, ami. net-tor-, one each. Half the cost of a typewriter has been. paid in 21. cases and of a Braille machine in two cases. In three cases, the expenses of blind people have been paid to come to Auckland for specialist treatment, with good results. In nine cases, where no other help could be given small grants have been made with which to supply household or personal necessities. Since the Advisory Committees began their active investigation of eases, the roll of those undergoing training or in employment at the Institute, has increased from 77 to 105. The circulation of books in Braille and Moon type to readers in all parts of the Dominion has also steadily increased.

Actual figures do not indicate the full measure of the help given. Advice, inspiration and encouragement have all played their part, and the fact that the organisation of the institute is now able to take a much more practical interest in every blind person, gives them a feeling of confidence and security. They tackle their difficult battle with a greater certainty of success and with the knowledge that a fine effort will be given a solid backing. Then again, the institute is able to help by finding wider markets for manufactured goods and cheaper sources of supply for raw material.

The fund is truly doing excellent work—work well worthy of that splendid leader of the blind, Sir Arthur Pearson, to whom the fund i:|; a memorial. On lffih April, 1924, His Excellency, Earl Jellicoe of Scapa, unveiled at the institute a tablet bearing the following inscription: —"This tablet was erected by New Zealand soldiers who were blinded in the Great War, to the sacred memory of their great friend and leader, Sir Arthur Pearson, Bart., G.8.E., who died-on-the 9th day of December, 1921. The fund, raised through their efforts,' as a practical tribute to his memory for the benefit of the blind people of the Dominion, is administered from this institute. Unveiled by. His Excellency, The Gover-nor-General, Admiral of the Fleet, Viscount Jellicoe of Scapa, 16th April, 1924." In his address, Lord Jellicoe said: "I hope, sincerely, the fund will be liberally supported, so that the people of not only this generation, but of generations to come, who have lost their sight, may benefit by the great work and example set by Sir Arthur Pearson."

Owing to increased activities, it has J been found that the present buildings of the institute are inadequate, and there has long been a pressing need for the replacement of the dilapidated collection of old wooden sheds comprising the workshops and the mens' quarters. Consequently, the trustees have been compelled to appeal to the public for a sum of £15,000 with which, to remedy these defects. On the occasion of his recent visit to the institute, His Excellency, Sir Charles Eergusson, "said: — "There is urgent need for better quarters for the men and better workshops, with greater space, better sanitation, and not so great a risk from fire. I feel that the people and the Government of the Dominion will only have to be told of the need and they will respond.'' The trustees would be deeply grateful for any contributions which might be sent to the institute for this purpose. To sum up the situation, it may be said that the time is now in view when the Dominion may feel assured that a proper organisation for the care of its blind people has been built up. It is a splendid work and none is more worthy of general public, support.