HELPING THE BLIND.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1925, Page 4

HELPING THE BLIND.

PRAUTK AL WORK OK THE PEARSON MEMORIAL FUND. I It will be remembered that in 19221923 as a result of the appeal of Mr 1 Clullia .Mackenzie. Westland County, contributed the stun of L'32S 12s od to the Sir Arthur Pearson .Memorial Fund, the practical purpose of which was to further assist the Jubilee Institute for the Blind. Auckland, in its work of caring for the blind people of the Dominion. It is , :mg. therefore, that we should publish the following account supplied by .Mr .Mackenzie of the actual manner in which the Fund is being expended. The total emit l ihutunis from all parts of the Dominion now amount to L'lo.l til 17s 3d. 1 lie Government contributed .I'IO.UUU in part payment of subside and Inis promised a further l! 10,(10(1 this year. The present invested capital is t! 19.051 ns. the total cost of raising the Fund with the remarkably small figure of L'(i79 Ms 2d. The capital is, of ionise, now administered by the Trustees of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind for the purpose for which it was raised. The first .-lens taken were the establishment- in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin of Advisory Commit tees under tlie Chairmanship ol the Mayors-in-oH'ue, for the purpose of representing the Institute and the investigation and assistance of cases within these districts. In addition, branches of the Red Cross Society and various Rotary Clubs have always placed their sei-vie-s mi ,„j readily at the disposal of ■ the i rustei's. In addition, it was ! louiid necessary as a lia-is on which to 1 work, to entrol the blind people, andwith as full particulars of their eases | as could be secured, in a Register, a) work hv no means easy. At the mom- - mil. -13(1 cases are. fully registered, and it is expected that probably about 2(2! cases still remain to lie iliscm crcd. I his Register has revealed nianv. I many tragedies—fathers of families losing their sight, earning power gone, savings absorbed in medical expenses, and tiie family plunged into poverty and hopelessness; small children who hate lost, their sight by accident or j

illness to grow up in ignorant c and uselessness; old people, their vision gone, living entirely alone, still clinging to the old lints so long their homos ; ill fuel every ease hold- its deep tragedy, if no more than that of a iile once lull ol hope and happiness cut oil irom all the glory of the world, the joy of literature and the freedom of niovemen! cnee so valued. What ran we do for then'7 Each has its problem. But in almost every ease we can liiul some way. even though small, of giving a little help and a lillle bright lie--. I lie children. ol course, are -non packed oil to the Institute to go through the ordinary seliool training and. to he taught I lie usual t hings which make the child a normal, useful I fit i.'.en. Many adults can adapt t hem- f selves to carrying on their old occupation- without a great deal of diffietlllv.

.vet it i- el ten necessary to give them hnalicial help, and tor 1 Lis purpose loan- and giants varying Irom Coll to .L'oOO have been made. Here is the actual li.-i of the cases helped:---Riaiio-tunei's and repairers, 9; bas-ket-makers, s : arts, divinity, law and massage student-, I ; dairy fanners. I ; poultry fanner-, 2; ma.--eurs, 2; re-

patriated to own country. 2; inainicnanre ol homes, 2: boarding-house

keeper, prolossional pianist, teacher, grocer, grit manufacturer, bead worker. am! muter one each. Half the Cost of a typewriter has been paid in 21 eases and ol a Braille machine in two eases. In three eases, tlm expense- of blind people have boon paid to Auckland for specialist treatment, with good results. Jn nine cases, where no other help could lie given, j small grants have been made with which to supply household or personal necessities. Since the Advisory Committees began their active investi«zntion of cases, the roll of those under- [ going training or in employment at’ the Institute, lias increased Irom 77 to j 105. The circulation of hooks in Braille and Moon typo to readers in all parts of the Dominion lias also steaililv increased.

Actual figures do not indicate the full measure of the help given. Advice. inspiration and encouragement have all played their part, and the fact that the organisation of the 1 nsti- | tute is now able to take a much more j practical interest in every blind per- j son. gives them a feeling of confidence I and security. They tackle their difficult battle with a greater certainty of success and with the knowledge that a fine effort will be given a solid backing. Then again, the Instiute is able to help by finding wider markets for

manufactured goods and cheaper .sources of supply for raw material. The Fund is truly doing excellent work—work well-worthy of that splendid leader of the blind, Sir Arthur Pearson, to whom the Fund is a memorial. On lfith April. 192-1. His Excellency, Earl .Jellicoe of .Seapa. unveiled at the Institute a tablet bearing the following inscription. “This tablet was erected by New Zealand soldiers who were blinded in the Great War, to the sacred memory of their great friend and leader Sir Arthur Pearson, Bart., G.8.E., who died on the 9th day of December, 1921. The hind, raised through their efforts, as a practical tribute to his memory for the benefit of the blind people of the Dominion, is administered from this Institute. Unveiled by His Excellency, the Governor-General, Admiral of the Fleet, Viscount, Jellicoe, Kith April. 192-1.” In his address Lord Jellicoe said. " I hope sincerely, the Fund will he liberally supported, so that the people of not only this generation, hut of generations to come, who have lost their sight, may benefit by the great work and example set by Sir Arthur Pearson.”

Owing to increased activities, it has been found that the present buildings of the Institute are inadequate, and there lias long been a pressing need lor the replacement of the dilapidated collection of old wooden sheds comprising the workshops and the men’s quarters. Consequently, the Trustees have been compelled to appeal to the Public for a sum of L'lo.(KH) with which to remedy these defects. On the occasion of his recent visit to the Institute. His Ext elleney. Sir ( harlcs Eergusson said. "There is urgent need for better quarters for the men and better workshops, with greater spate, better sanitation, and not so great a risk from lire. I feel that the people and the Government of the Dominion will only have to he told of the need and they will respond.” The Trustees would lie deeply grateful for any contributions which might he sent to the Institute for this purpose. To sum up the situation, it may he said that the time is now in view when the Dominion may feel assured that a proper organisation for the care of its blind people has been built up. If is a splendid work and none is more worthy of generous public support.

First aid for coughs, cold, iniluor>za. "Woods’ Omni. Peppermint (lure.