BLIND MEN

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1933, Page 3

BLIND MEN

TO USE WHITE’ WALKING STICKS. GIVING WARNING TO TRAFFIC. AUCKLAND, June 20. A scheme to provide blind persons with white walking sticks as an indication to vehicle drivers and pedestrians to exercise care is announced by Mr Clutha Mackenzie, director of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind. “The ability of’many or oPr blind residents to get about busy streets Without a guide is a never-failing source of wonder, particularly in view of the ever-increasing motor traffic,” said Mr Maskenzie. “This, however, does present a problem to the blind, particularly with the increasing’speed and silence o‘- the motor-car. Blind persons have always been averse to branding themselves in any way or in drawing attention to their disability*; nevertheless they have" felt that wifclr the growth of traffic something must be done both in the interests of their own safety and in fairness to the drivers of motorcars to provide some indication that extra caution is necessary.

“After much discussion it was decided in Europe that the most generally useful sign would be for the blind to carry white walking Sticks, and this has now found gefioval acceptance rn Great' Britain and North America. The idea has also appealed to a number of blind persons in New Zealand, and the hoard of trustees of the New Zealand Institute for the. Blind has decided to •to offer, a white walking stick as n "ift to any boiia fide blind person.desiring to ha.ve one. The Automobile Associations have been informed and have accepted the idea as a good one.”