CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 212, 7 August 1937, Page 11

CRIPPLED CHILDREN

INTEREST IN MANAWATU. OFFICERS ELECTED. The annua! meeting of the Alanawatu branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children’s Society was held in the City Council Chambers last evening, Mr W. G. Black presiding. Also present were Mesdames Black, R. T. Jaggard, W. J. Croucher, H. P. Horne and J. Horne (iVoodville delegates), and Miss M. Grant, Mr C. S. Williams, F.R.C.S.E., and Messrs K. G. Chamberlain, W. J. Croucher, G. G. Hancox, and T. W. Henderson (bon. secretary). In the annual report of the branch it was stated that the society had functioned actively throughout the year. The sum of £157 15s 8d had been expended over the past year. Over 30 cases had been investigated by personal visits, making a total number of 52 cases reported to the society since its inception, many of whom fought the assistance of the society either by way of medical attention, the supply of surgical apparatus, or vocational training. The personal investigation of cases had entailed much travelling and time on the part of the members of the case committee, the area allotted to the branch being very extensive. Co-operation with the Palmerston North Hospital Board was now more promising than hitherto, and it was anticipated that speedier and more effective results would be obtained from the efforts made. It was stated, among other things, in the report submitted by the Dannovirke sub-branch, that the membership was 48 persons, including life members. There were only a few cripples in the district. There was a balance in hand of £35 7s Bd. The Woodville sub-branch reported that it had a credit balance of £29 7s 2d. Mr Black paid tributes to the work that had been done for the crippled children by Mr Williams and Mr Henderson.

The election of officers for the ensuing vear resulted as follows:- —President." Mr A?. G. Black ; vice-presidents, the Mayor of Palmerston North, the mayors "of all the towns in which there are sub-centres, and Mr D. S. AA ylie, F. ; lion, secretary, Air T. AA . Henderson; hon. treasurer, Air P. S. Larcomb; bon. auditor, Air It. H. Spencer; committee, Mesdames H. P. Horne (AVnodville), A. E. Atansford, AY. J. Croucher, It. T. Jaggard. G. G. Petersen and AA . G. Black, Alisses Af. Grant and A. Kearns, Drs. E. C. Barnett, L. J. Hunter (Levin) and AA r . Beedie (Dannevirke'). Mr C. S. illian.s, Messrs 'AA r . Croucher. AA*. S. Carter, L. Stein (Dannevirke), G. G. Hancox, H. B. Free. Iv. G. Chamberlain, and E. Butt (Shannon); medical committee, Air C. S. Williams, Air D. S- AA’ylie and Dr. E. C. Barnett; delegates to the New Zealand Crippled Children s Society, Air Black and Air AA'illiams. NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL. THE YEAR’S WORK. AA'ELLINGTON, Aug. 6. “The policy of the New Zealand executive is ‘that any scheme fo deal successfully and effectually with each

individual cripple must necessarily be of a local character and, toward the attainment of this end, 17 branches of the society have l>een established throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion,” states the annual report of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society. The New Zealand executive is the central co-ordinating body for all organisations working for the welfare of Orippled children in Now Zealand, and is a purely voluntary institution, launched by the Rotary Clubs and firmly established by the gifts totalling £60.000 received from Lord Nuffield and supplemented by contributions from the public. The report shows that during the year the various branches have been engaged in the discovery and registration of crippled children in their d* s " tricts, and 1409 oases have now been registered throughout _ New Zealand. “The policy of allowing the branches the utmost scope in pioneering the development and introductory work, free from the imposition of any restrictions, has been pursued during the past year, and the, experience thus gained of the varied activities of the branches should be of inestimable value to the executive in formulating and adopting a uniform line of action for the society. In the absence of any uniformitv in the preparation and recording of statistical information it is not possible this year to submit a summary of the actual results achieved in tabulated form,” states the report. AVORK OF BRANCHES.

The branches are doing a valuable work. Under their guidance children are visited in homes and hospitals; medical attention, surgical Loots, artificial limbs, and special treatment are provided, and massage and violet-ray treatment arranged; vocational training is carried out; books and stationery are supplied to. post-primary pupils, and even special tuition and correspondence courses arranged. The branches also do n. valuable work in arranging entertainments, transport facilities, annual holidays, employment, and social contacts. They are even, willing to carry out the work of arranging savings banks deposits. In 1936 provision was made by the Alinister of Education for the appointment of itinerant teachers to give tuition to crippled children in their homes. The Director-General of Education recently applied for a list ot the crippled children whom it is considered are not at present under efficient instruction. The report states that the society has sent a questionnaire to all branches on the question, and is awaiting their replies. . An extensive course of training is now available through tile society. Particular attention is being paid to the training of crippled children over school age, and for girls courses are now obtainable in dressmaking, millinery, shorthand and typing, embroidery, artificial flower-making, correspondence, tailoring, clerical and domestic work. By means of special classes, boys may receive instruction in lathe and electrical work, accountancy, radio and wireless, commercial art, wickerwork, bootmaking, motor-car assembling, and clerical work. LIST OF CASES.

The report gives the following list of cases registered at the branches: Canterbury and AYestland, 135 cases; AA'ellington, 155; Auckland, 400; Dunedin, 156; Hawke’s Bay, 84; Alarlborougii, 33; AA T auganui, 40; South Taranaki, 20; AVairarapa, 46; Southland, 70; East Southland, 6; New Plymouth 40; Alanawatu, 52; Nelson. Otago. 41; South Canterbury, 45; Gisborne, 61 ; Stratford, —• Total for New Zealand, 14G9 cases. ' “Your executive hare viewed with grave concern the epidemic of infantile paralysis, which broke out in December of last year, and subsequently spread throughout the whole of Zealand. The prompt, action of the Alinister of Health, Hon. P. I‘raser, in closing the schools and debaning children under 16 years of age from attending picture theatres and other places of amusement, materially assisted in checking the spread, and in lessening the virulence of the disease.” the report continues. “The Health Department and the public hospitals have rendered excellent service in the skill and attention thev have bestowed on the afflicted children and in their efforts to avert the effects of tlie paralysis. The provvion of a hot-water bathing pool at the Dunedin Hospital for underwater exercise of afflicted limbs lias proved of marked benefit to sufferers, and this form of treatment is now being followed bv other hospitals. The Dunedin branch of the society defrayed the cost of installing the pool and equippingit with rubber rings. . floats, bath towels and other requisites. “AVhilo the incidence of the epidemic has been mild in comparison with the previous outbreak which occurred in the year 1924-25, it is yet too early to indicate the number of children who may be permanently crippled as a result of the recent outbreak; but it is fair to assume that ultimately it will result in an increase in the number of cases coming within the scope of the society’s activities.”