DISABLED MEN

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 152, 24 December 1929, Page 11

DISABLED MEN

EXHIBITION OF WORK

HOW LIVINGS ARE EARNED

WORKSHOPS AT HOME

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, 7th November.

If one needs a reminder that there are men who are still making a sacrifice for their "ountry it may be found at tho exhibition of work done by wardisabled men, which was opened' by Earl Jellicoe this ■• ek.

"To me," said Lord Jellicoe, "the most remarkable thing about tho exhibition is the extraordinary variety of the goods produced—pottery, leather work, house and garden furniture, wonderfully painted fabrics, poultry houses, ladders, hand woven tweeds, household brushes, bankets, to mention only a few."

As to the quality, he had no fear of adverse criticism. Many of the organisations were to some extent handicapped by the fact that it often took two or more men to turn out tho work of an able-bodied man, and yet the goods sold at competitive prices.

Lord Jellicoe could have said much more in regard to the quality. It is most remarkable. Lord Roberts'a Workshops, the senior of all disabled soldiers' workshops, seems to prod ice articles of a higher standard of quality each year. Three or four years ago the furniture was good. To-day the lacquer work, for instance, would be worthy of a special exhibition if it were turned out from any ordinary commercial factory. Lord Roberta's factory also produces baskets, brushes, bedroom sets, and furniture of all kinds.

LINKS WITH THE PAST.

When, the roof of Wectrninster Hall was repaired some of the original oak timbers, which were affected by the borer, wero cut out. By tho courtesy of the Office of "Works, much of thii3 timber passed into tho hands of Papworth Industries, and tho craftsmen there have been fashioning it into articles of value. Under Eiehard 11., in 1384, the walls of the Hall were raised and a new hammer beam added. The trees were selected from the Sussex Weald and they were probably growing as saplings when Alfred the Great built the first ships to repulse the Danes. The articles made from this timber are being sold at the exhibition, and thus the material so steeped in the nation's history is being preserved to the people of to-day and to future generations.

A hundred men at Papworth are on travelling case making. It is interesting to learn that tho high-class real leather cases have a good sale in America, although the duty is 40 per cent. America evidently cannot or does not produce these high quality goods, though there are many who can afford to buy them.

St. Dunstan's Institute has its troubles. With its thousand men working in their own homes at a. restricted number of trades, the production is large. But foreign competition is a serious thing for such ■ articles as baskets and dcor mats. German peasants make baskets after their day's work in tho winter. Indian factories pay 2d an hour to thoir mat makers. The materials for making woollen rugs at home aro being sold by the English shops. Trays of poor quality from tho Continent are available at a price with which no blind worker can compete. It is an uphill fight, therefore, for the authorities of St. Dunstan's. The quality of the mate-rial produced ia beyond criticism. More men are taking up carpentering and the simple articles which are produced by tho blind are very well finished.

ARTISTIC POTTERY.

The work of the Ashsteaa Potters is always a pleasure to examine. New patterns are forthcoming each year, but the institution retains its simple method of colouring, without floral or other decoration. There are green, blue, and pink utensils. A full dinner service in. any colour selected is a new departure in the works. A bed-break-fast set is another attractive collection. A hot-water plate is now since'a year ago, as is a honey jar into which a honeycomb box will fit. A signed reproduction of the Jienin Gate Lion by Mr. Eeid Dick is attracting' many buyers.

Of the twenty-seven organisations showing their work, it is not necessary to mention all. The-type of goods being produced, however, may be of interest. The Valo of Clwyd Bural Industries, for instance, produce fretworked lucky pigs, red dragons as menu-noldors, much favoured at Welsh Society dinners. The Leek menuholder as also an attraction. The Cambrian Factor/, produces hand-woven wool fabrics. The Enham Industries, where there are 240 men still suffering irom nervous turn out basket ware. Tho Naval and Marine Widows' Institute at Portsmouth provides work for tho widows of sailors. The most beautiful knitted coats, jumpers, frocks, ana children's woollen clothes are produced. It is interesting to note that a consignment of the children's clothes lias been bought by a lady for sale in New Zealand. Officers' families are also provided tor in the same way, aria cushions, embroidered articles, artistic neck bands, and such like are made by the people at their own homes. Small parties of disabled men have set up works in many localities for making socks. Painted Fabrics is a firm now well established, which turns out the most, beautiful articles and -which has orders from many large retail firms.

A. LOND.6N VALET SERVICE.

Three years ago a London Valet Service was started by disabled men. It has proved a great success. Fifty men now have 6000 customers, and the organisation has grown without advertisement except that obtained by personal recommendation.- The- headquarters are in. Bloomsbury, but it is considered that in time there will be a branch of the service in every suburb. J

Nineteen hospitals, where disabled men have found a more or loss permanent home, compete for a challenge cup This is given to the hospital gaining the greatest number of points for work done by the men. The exhibits on the stall are. a remarkable assortment. Embroidery, socks, shawls, paintings, ornamental boxes, brass work, dolls' houses, pipe-racks, and a score of other articles are to be soe.n on tho stall Most of this work is of a high quality and well worth purchasing.