"KINGDOM OF THE BLIND"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 42, 14 November 1918, Page 9

"KINGDOM OF THE BLIND"

BASKETtMAKEITS RECORD.- ' In. the-Sydney'.lndustrial Blind. Institution, h'usily :engaged., day- by dajvin .weaving baskets, is -ili\ E. Croft,-n Wind worker who. has• achieved"a.worlfl's record. It is at least as valuiible a record'as thp .highest, junvp. or the longest golf drive,'though.not.so spectacnlar.

He holds tho record, for. the best-week's .pay for any blind workman in the world. His wages' for. the" week ended. July 4 ..amounted to- X! .- 8.3-..- : . !)cl:,. ,On. , several other occasions he has,nearly reached the same amount. -.As a matter" of .fact he has earned more, biit tho. record wns for a norinul.. week, without overtime. On one occasion, working overtime, ho nnd a fellow-worker' took £-1 ss. each. for their week's work.-. .->.

Mr. Croft entered .the .institution 31 years ago. In his youth he was employed nt Mort's Dock, and it was here that occurred an accident which ■ deprived him of sight. Nothing daunted, Mr.'' Croft decided 'that he would not be left behind in. the strugglo for existence, and his championship indicates-that he. has not. Many workers who aro not blind make lesr, than lie does. , ■-. .-:'.-

This fiuccess of his is considered by the management a feather in its . pap, as Knowing to what pitch its tuition may bring a blind , worker, and how, for a blind man with courage and energy, it is possible to overcomo his great handicap. ■ . ■ ■. . ■ ' - - . It is not contended. :however> that all sightless persons can attain such- distinction as wage-earnevs,. otherwise it would fieein that.blindness imposes no disabilities. ,It is this, disability, indeed, that makes Mr. Croft's.success so notable.

Mr. Croft, in addition to being the champion wage-earner, .takes, a keen in? terest in other activities carried' on by Hie institution. He was.for some years the recognised champion walker, and.at the present .time is the president of the .Blind Men's Social and Debating Club, a position to which his fellows have elected him more than once... . ...