CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 90, 17 July 1945, Page 3

CRIPPLED CHILDREN

WHAKATANE SUB-CENTRE

STREET APPEAL OX AUGUST 10

The cost to the community ofj paying pensions to crippled people for their Avhole lives is enormous. For those at present on the files of the New Zealand Society ? the. cost in 25 years would be something like £3 000 000. It had been stated by great employers of labour, among Avhom Henry Ford Avas named, that for some types of work, cripples Avere better than other people. There is no doubt that something outstanding Avas being carried out, in developing the impaired faculties of many crippled children. Splendid work' is done by the Welfare Officer Miss Lercw Avho 9 '1 has visited 41 cases in this district

t- , - - •- ' ~—— — ■)- and outlying ones already. These she had recommended for medical examination and treatment. Fittings for surgical and appointments with specialists had been arranged. Some children Avere in the local hospital others in the Wilson Home ? and others were to go later, to receive training and care. ""Assistant'* towards gaining positions where the work was suited to the children's abilities is given, as it is the object of the Society to have no children on a pension if possible. In necessitous cases ? financial assistance is given. Arrangements liaA'e been made for supervision of the correspondence school Avork done lay the crippled children in hospital. This is given voluntarily by two teachers. The Rotary Club Avas the .first organisation to interest itself in

cripples-. Lord Nuffield made bequests of £40,000 and aD$ funds were later augmented by donations, bequests and collections. There are Welfare Officers oper-t a ting over all of New for North Auckland one forHatiiil'- * ton, one for Auckland, one for Bay of Plenty etc. Their work covers; great areas following vague "clues" in way-back places. In order to carry out this'needy-., \vork ; funds are urgently - and the lodal committee hopes for the'' wholehearted support of the public on the street Appeal Day on Augn ust 10. The. Red Cross Shop will be run by members of the Society and : friends that day, and a large quarutitv of good, used clothing will be offered for saleDonations of cooking, produce and ' flowers would be most, welcome.