HELPING THE BUND

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 87, 9 October 1931, Page 9

HELPING THE BUND

NEED OF SUPPORT

By way of affording the blind folk of. Wellington an .opportunity to meet Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, Director of the' Jubilee Institute for tho Blind, Auckland, the Wellington branch of, the Eed Cross Society, which makes the care of the blind a special part of its work, organised a picnic outing to Day's Bay on Thursday. Fine weather attracted a substantial proportion of tho blind, the party present at the picnic numbering about sixty. Arrangements were in the hands of the ladies of the Eed Cross. Buses left the Public Library, Mercer street, at 10 a.m. with the main party, picking up tho blind of Pctone, Lower Hutt, and Upper Hutt en route. Lunch and afternoon tea were served at tho pavilion, and a very happy day was spent in the grounds and on tho beach. ■ i During the afternoon Mr; Clutha Mackenzie; who has just recently returned from' an important conference held in America for the purpose p£ promoting the welfare of tho blind of the world, gave: &n interesting talk upon what transpired. As a result of this gathering he felt much good, would accrue in tho direction of unifying methods of training and general care of the blind in various parts of the world. Mr. Mackenzie gave a resume of the work at the institute, stressing the difficulty which had been met with in consequence of the prevailing depression. Unlike kindred institutions in other parts of tho world those directing operations at' : tho institute had maintained the trainees there on full time, and their capacity to earn had not been impaired; There had been, however, through falling off in demand for manufactured articles —basketware, chairs, doormats, etc., a substantial accumulation of goods which, if continued, would mean a curtailment of the power to earn of the blindfolk at tho institute. In the hope of disposing of the accumulated stocks a feto lasting several clays had been arranged at the institute. This would take placo towards the end of the year. A raffle had also been authorised whereby tickets at a shilling each would be disposed of throughout the Dominion. Prizes in tho form of manufactured goods would be distributed. By this method, it was hoped, tho difficulty in regard to surplus stocks would bo overcome. Evidence of the times was also shown in contributions to the work of tho institute which had contracted by. 20 per cent. In conclusion, Mr. Mackenzie expressed the appreciation of the trustees at tho institute for tho work which was being done by the Eed Cross Society on behalf of tho blind.