The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1913 HELP FOR THE BLIND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 84, 9 August 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1913 HELP FOR THE BLIND.

In spite of the misery and moan of war. and many calls upon the geiierdsity of the people of tlic Dominion, tlir sight' 'of the Blind appeals with an irresistibly pathetic force to all good souls in tho community. Yet, because of this terrible woiTd warfare, the claims of the Blind are beiniv greatly increased, and, therefore, there is greater need for effort to keep this worthy object even more steadily in view, and to contribute moriC in the spirit of the widow and; her mite. Yearly an appeal goes out! to the people through the medium of the report of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, the headquarters of which are situate in Auckland, and this year being the semi-jubilee of the institution marks an epoch in its history. A ' brief retrospect: of the I'jftriod appears in the report, aliensi both appropriate and interesting. The Institute was founded on July T 1890. at a meeting held under the presidency of Mr J. H. I ptou, the Mayor. The object of the meeting was to take over and extend the work of a small society known as ‘The Association of the Friends ol the Blind.” which had been organised by Bishop Cow ie in tin* previous year. The project took definite form when the late Mr John Abbott threw out the suggestion that the establishment of such an Institute of the Jubilee ot the Colony, which had just been eonmemorated. The enlarged society was appropriately named “The Jubilee Institute for the Blind,” and its 'scope extended to embrace the whole Colony ; and the good work done by the first 'committee has been worthily carried on with increasing benefit to the Blind during the past quarter of a century. The Society’s handsome new building was opened on May 21, U)()9, and there are now 9.‘1 men. women.: aim children under the care of the Institute, including II who live 1 outside and daily attend. The number who have benefitted by residence total 220, in addition to very many who have been taught to read and write at their own homos. “It is

hoped,” continues the i mport, “that this ietrosjject will have the effect lint oiilv of securing the continued ' ar; •' r * ■ sympathy of those well acquainted with tlio Institute, hut of awakening the interest "and kindly support of the

public, in general, and the 1 rustccs earnestly appeal for liberal hinds to enable them to maintain and extend the Tie ne lie cut work on behalf of those deprived of the inestimable blessing of sight.” Sympathetic reference is made iu the report; to the death of .Mr W. Head Bloomfield, who, was a. victim, together with wife and daughter of the lamentable disaster to the ‘Empress of Ireland” j by collision in the St. Lawrence river on .May 29, 1914. Regarding the work done by pupils of the Institute very complimentary remarks are quoted from educational and expert authorities. It is worthy of mention that the University Students, Doric L. Algie and David A. Outran), have been very successful in their work, the ouo qualifying fbr the M.A. degree with second-class honors in Latin and English. and the other obtaining the first section of the BA. degree. The, pianoforte pupils also showed up welL in the practical examinations. Notwithstanding the war, the contributions to the Institute show a slight increase on those of last year, and the thanks of all are expressed for this and other means of assistance. .The Principal in Ids report states that in the house and school there was at March 31, 1915, seven women, 20 boys, and 28 girls—a total of 61, and in the technical and industrial department at the same date, 14 men, 17 inmates, and one day pupil—total 32. The number on the school roll (37) is the largest yet recorded. The sales in the Trade Department amounted to £1667 8s lid, a decrease on the previous year of £559 5s 6d, and the payments fo Blind Workers was £llß2 19s 3ct, an increase, on the preceding year of £177 18s 6d—■ a record for any year', which figures speak eloquently of the value of the Trading Department as a means of providing employment to Blind workers. The decrease in the sales is stated to lie due directly to the poor season's strawberry crop. A paragraph in the report to which special attention had been directed is as follows: “The record of the blind in the Dominion who, having completed their training, return home to start business on their own account, is on a par with the experience of institutes in other parts of: the world. Very few succeed in earning anything like sufficient to keep themselves. Too much care and thought; •'■therefore,, cannot ,he given ito this most important .branch of the work, Mvliich is in reality the" ‘aftercare’ of the blind. Our sincere thanks

iore;,cine .try.fchei numerous . I( custphtefs throughout the Dominion ,who, assist jbhp cause; of. the, ,slind, purchasing the goods manufactured |j,hy s thbm.^’ , Th,e T/ustefts, .point out; tjiat it !5 . pot,.essential,tlnit,an, applicant;for acjlr mission/shpuld, he .totally, blindif the amount, of, sight possessed ,its insufficient for any ordinary occupation, the case, if otherwise eligible, is always considered by them with a view to admission. The contributions; for the year totalled £1419 7s 7d, of which ' Stratford contributed £l3 12s. for a town of the impoiTahce of Stiajtj’ord, 1 this,- amount*' cannot he .termed, large. ’ artd this ’ year—not "in spite of, lint 'because Of, tlie war, which has| struck ' a 'sympathetic chord" in many a heart schcVed and ha'rdehed liy Time’s tj'eat--1 ment—we 1 I'Oolc confidently forward to a lugger' 1 cb licet i oit" as Stratford’s 'share next year! towards the dare, of, those' of their i'cdlbw'-dbmhiionists who. in the infinite wisdom of the Omniscient; are «o' sadly handicapped in the battle of life. „ .