HELPING THE BLIND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 628, 3 April 1929, Page 6

HELPING THE BLIND

INSTITUTE’S GOOD WORK STEADY PROGRESS MADE A review of the work accomplished and the advances made by the Jubilee Institute for the Blind was given to the contributors to the institution who attended the annual mee*bng yesterday. The chairman, Mr. A. J. Hutchinson, was re-elected unanimously to the position of president, and the two retiring trustees, the Hon. George Fowlds and Mr. F. Wake, were also rerelected. REVIEW OF WORK The chairman reviewed'the main accomplishments of the last twelve months. The principal events had been the completion of the new building to provide cubicle accommodation of sixteen women, and much-wanted additional office space. More attractive sleeping quarters for the women had been provided. The new building which connected the existing retail shop with the main building formed a particularly attractive addition to the institute.

The steady progress in all departments which he had noted at the last annual meeting was still continuing. During a period of six years the output of goods had risen from £2,466 to £9,056, this being an increase of £1,230 over last year. The amount paid in wages and salaries to blind people had risen from £2,123 to £6.196, an excess of £l7O over last year. The number of persons on the roll at the close of the year was 128, as against 112. at the beginning of the year, and 76 in 1923. MUSICAL SIDE The Boys* Band, after 18 months* training, had been able to undertake a remarkably successful four weeks’ tour of the Dominion. Everywhere they had been received with the warmest hospitality, and had been greeted with crowded houses. The tour had produced a net profit of £Bl6 6s 2d. of which £IOO had been distributed among the members of the band. The musical side of the institute was being further extended by the creation of a dance band and an orchestra. The band was now in the position to take professional engagements. The institute was continuing to

render invaluable service to the blind community throughout the Dominion, by the free circulation of works in the Braille and Moon systems. As the result of generous annual grants from the City Councils of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin the trustees were able to keep the library fully stocked with current publications.

The institute was doing a magnificent work, and it contemplated another year of useful service. It was the earnest desire of the trustees to assist the blind to the greatest possible extent to develop to the full their latent capacities, not only in the field of useful remunerative occupation, but also in the field of literature and music, and to become interesting, allround citizens. This they were sueceeding in doing, and they trusted that they would continue to have the help and support of the public. THE FUTURE There were still directions in which it is desirable that the institute should be further extended. ' It was their desire that they should be able to extend to the 700 blind people in the Dominion every opportunity to make good, and one direction in which they felt they could be of great service was by providing quarters which could be occupied by blind men and their families from the South. To come to the institute now meant separating husband from wife and children, which, to a newly-blinded man, was not an attractive proposition. Were they able to provide housing for a man’s family, he could come to the institute in a happy frame of mind, and be able to settle down there to steady employment; and also be able to contribute by his own earnings to the main support of his wife and family. He would also like to see swimming baths provided at the institute. Everything which contributed to their physical development was highly desirable. SUPPORT REQUIRED The figures for the year indicated a slight falling-off in assistance from the public in the giving of direct financial . help. Subscriptions totalled £2,811, as against £3,096 for the previous year, and legacies £2,414, as against £3,813 last year. He appealed to the public to give more generously, especially in the direction of benefiting the capital endowment of the institute by bequests. The institute was dependent on a good capital endowment, for the permanent and satisfactory continuance of its work. The director, Mr. Clutha N. Mackenzie, is leaving for England this week, where he will investigate the latest developments in the care of the blind. A vote of thanks was accorded him and his staff. Mr. Mackenzie suitably replied.