CORRESPONDENCE. TO AID THE BLIND.

Otaki Mail, 10 April 1922, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO AID THE BLIND.

To the Editor. In launching the appeal throughout New Zealand for the establishment of a memorial to the name of Sir Arthur Pearson, Bart, the committee of the fund are carrying out the earnest wishes of Lady Pearson and Sir Neville Pearson in taking up New Zealand’s paTt in the effort, which is being made throughout the English-speaking world. So far as New Zealand is concerned the fund ia to be an endowment for the extension of the training and supervision of the blind people of the Domin ion—between five and six hundred in number —in other words it is hoped by this memorial fund to do for the blind of New Zealand what Sir Arthur Pearson has done for the blind of Britain and for the blinded soldiers of the Empire. They can bo made normal happy citizens, folly occupied at a useful' trade, with good homes and families of their own. There is no other way in which the gifts of a generous public can bring about a more direct result measured in terms of human happiness and human good, and it is a charity which is near home. Words have never been adequate in which to express the gratitude of New Zealand’s blinded soldiers to Sir Arthur Pearson, and they feel that they cannot honor his memory in better fashion than by bringing within reach of the civilian blind that which Sir Arthur gave them, and they will take a leading part in this appeal. Much has been done for the disabled soldiers by tho unforgetting public, and they feel that they can now do something in return. The Jubilee Institute for the blind, which has always been handicapped by lack of money and has thtreby been prevented from keeping in lino with the modem institutions of tho old world is fully aware of its limitations, and is joining whole-hearted-ly in this appeal. The memorial fund, in order that there may be no overlapping, is to be handed over to its Trustees in due course, subject to certain specifications, for their administration. The fund will bear a Government subsidy of 24s in the £, so that every half-a-erown given by the public becomes 5s 6d for the benefit of the blind. Four fine able men in the prime of life have recently lost their right —one, a railway employee with a wife and nine children, the eldest fourteen years old; another, a policeman with a wife and two children; the third, a miner on the West Coast; and the fourth, a young returned soldier with three years service behind him. The fact that he lost his eight in a blasting accident in civilian employment two years after his return disqualifies him from receiving assistance from the funds ordinarily established to help returned men. Theie are only some of the cases which are oecuring continually, three of them blasting accidents, the other the reresult of influenza, and it is these and many others whom the fond is designed to assist. We want to teach them to live again, to learn new employaents and to be happy useful citizens. Pounds, shillings or pence—all will help. The committee will be doejtiy grateful if those who feel that they can help in any way will co-operate with the Mayor in raising the local contribution. Large qt small, every contribution will bring new joy and new usefulness info the lives of those, who, through no fault of their own, have not the same blessings of this world as most of us. £45,000 is the j amount for which we appeal.—l am, etc., , CLETHA MACKENZIE, Chairman.