CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 150, 28 June 1943, Page 6

CRIPPLED CHILDREN

WANGANUI BRANCH HAS SUCCESSFUL YEAR CHAIRMAN S ANNUAL REPORT A successful year of activity is reviewed in the report, of the chairman. Mr. B. R. Dobbs, of the Wanganui branch of Ihe New Zealand Crippled Children Society, to be presented at. the annual meeting to be held on Monday, Ally 5. “Most outstanding progress in the society’s year was the establishment at the hospital of the bespoke bootmaking department.” states the report. The New Zealand executive of the society had pointed out to branches in its 1941-42 report the need for boot departments at hospitals. The Wanganui branch had immediately taken up the question with the Wanganui Hospital Board, and the board engaged an expert craftsman and the society at its own cost an adult apprentice who had for some years been on the branch register. Children’s orders were now supplied within a few weeks instead of, as previously, many months. The maximum number of cases registered by the Wanganui branch since 1937 was 269, but. each year cases are transferred or withdrawn, and the register was at 162 cases, stated the report. In age groups they were: 1 to 5 years. 44; 6 to 10 years. 35; 11 to 15 vears, 38: 16 to 20 years, 33; over 21, 12. Clinics at the Wanganui Hospital had been held each Wednesday morning, ai« average of three to four cases being seen at each clinic. A special self-propelling type of chair was made through the Wanganui Hospital Board’s snlint and engineering department a short time a ■ only after many difficulties had been overcome in procuring parts for the work. Increased Membership. It is very pleasing to record that the membership of the branch now' stands a'i over 1000, whilst thirteen additional life members were added during ‘the year. The goal of the branch is 2000 members, and with the continued interest and generosity of the public combined with the addition of sub-branches, there is every reason to expect that this will be reached. Members of the branch could help in this direction by interesting their friends in the work of the society. The year was the most successful financially of any year up to the present because of increased membership and gifts and local body grants, a legacy, a Christmas pantomime and a record street, appeal.