BLINDED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 18, 16 October 1920, Page 11

BLINDED SOLDIERS

MR. CLUTHA MACKENZIE'S SCHEME

SUPPORT FROM PATRIOTIC BODIES In regard to tho treatment of blinded soldiers, the chairman of the conference of patriotic societies (Mr. L. O. H. Tripp) mentioned yesterday .that at the last, meeting of the Advisory Board it was decided that tho societies as a whole should set.aside a sum of.JiIO.OOO for a term of five years for the benefit of blinded soldiers. . Since then, the secretary (Air. It. W. Shallc'rass) had sent out letters to tho various societies with varying results. Dnnodia was opposed to' it as it was .Against. its constitution'; Canterbury was against it, and Auckland was entirely against tho proposal,: so' they./would havo to reconsider the .whole, question. . _In the afternoon, Mr. Clutha Mackenzie waited 'on the conference to . clear points regarding a proposal w)iich,'he said, had not emanated from himself, but really arose from tho task which .he . had. been' charged with by Sir, Arthur . Pearson—to personally see, as far as possible, to the happiness and well-being of .the men concerned. Without, this, much of tho. good work done at'.St Diinstan's would be lost. -The monoy was hot.wanted to make grants to tho blinded soldiers, but was for personal needs. .. .' Mr. .Williams asked; how •it was proposed.to spend the.i£6oo a year interest on'.the ~£IO,OOO. . . Mr.. Mackenzie .said that some, of the money, .would .be necessary to purchase material for' the men to workwith. Unfortunately; most■ of, the. men had been trained in trades, that wore economically unsound at the present, time—basketware, string work,-and poultry farming. There was also money needed for tools,' literature, etc.

In reply to ft question, Mr. Mackenzie said, the treatment ;of the blind by the Government. • was generous. The married men|s pension's had v been .increased to 25 and 'the. single men's .to M, and blind men and their escorts travelled on the railways on the one ticket.' ' ; : ;

;' Subsequently;; Mr. Williams urged that generous'consideration should be given to tho echeme, outlined, by Mr. Mackenzie. 'He was siirpTised .to learn that some of the societies had disapproved of the scheme, but perhaps'those societies who did approve of the , scheme w<mld : be able to' innke up the sum required. ;' He moved, in that direction. \- Mr, W,. Pollard '(Blenheim), seconded the motion, and said Blenhini was. prepared'to do itg share. Mr. J.'J. Dbugall (Christchurbh) said they must not allow sentiment to cloud their reason, and that, "he was. afraid, .was' the cose. As far as.the. blind men jh" Canterbury wore concerned,,"■ every "men; had; expressed himself; at . perfectly satisfied witn:!his treatment.' .'. . ' . .

;MivV; J.' : Larne'r'(Auckland) strongly supported Mr. /Dougall,. and. asked, was there "one/blind soldier; in New Zealand who had not been treated well, even fiber-ally f 4 '. "' '■■'"'.'" ' Mr. "S."Wright '(Dunedih) said his society was, .the • 6chemo, . entirely. • If they'wbi-e"going to specialise in.blind men, .'there* wet'o "half-a-dozcn other types of diseases which. could be mentioned—, oases, infinitely more pitiable than any case';' Mr._ ;Mackenzie pictured. .There was only oiie. thing; to do for these menkeep, them, happyj.'and''thb./only way to do to; find them congenial employmeiit.

. The chairman said that ho could not commit' the Wellington eocicty. They 'were. sympathetic, but wanted to, Icnow more about the. constitution of the fund and, : the trustees before, they were, prepared ,; to/take, further action. ..'All . tour centres', and Invercargill and.Wanganui, had turned .'the schemo down.'

Tho motion was canied by' 11 votes to 7. . ,

.It was decided, that the■ fund should be fonnjed'' by,, pro ' TO!ta societies. ... . ,", . . , . /Mr/Dougall: "Tou'll'get nothing from Canterbury. I told you that from the first.", ... / ;.-/.,- ■ '