GRACIOUS ACT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 700, 27 June 1929, Page 18

GRACIOUS ACT

Blind Workers’ Gift to Relief Fund EMDEN COMMANDER'S PRAISE One of the most gracious acts to help alleviate all the human suffering and misery caused by the disastrous earthquake which rocked the South Island last week was witnessed at the Jubilee Institute for the Blind yesterday afternoon. The sixty odd blind workers in the Institute’s workshop, entirely unsolicited, took up a collection among themselves for the relief fund. Even in the time of their own dark affliction they had remembered the plight of thousands of their fellow men in the various parts of New Zealand visited by the devastating earthquake. The foreman of the workshop, Mr. W. Packman, told Mr. A. J. Hutchinson, chairman of directors of the Blind Institute, that a sum of £8 10s had been raised, and that they desired it to be sent on to the Mayor of Auckland’s relief fund.

Mr. Hutchinson informed the Mayor, Mr. George Baildon, who was so struck by the spirit of self-sacrifice that had been displayed that he promised to call at the institute workshop in the afternoon to receive the money personally. Mr. Baildon did not say at the time that he would bring other visitors also, so that a pleasant surprise was in store for the workers when they assembled in the workshop at 3 p.m. COMMANDER ASTONISHED Mr. Baildon’s party included the German Consul in Mew Zealand, Mr. W. Penseller, the commander of the visiting German cruiser Emden, Captain-of-Frigate Lothar von Arnauld, de la Periere, and his A.D.C.. the Minister of Internal Affairs, representing the Government at the ceremonies in connection with the Emden’s visit, the Hon. P. A. de la Perelle, and Lieuten-ant-Colonel J. E. Duigan, chief of staff, Northern Command. Mr. Baildon received the collection from Mr. Packman, and expressed himself delighted with the spirit of the men who were thoughtful for others in their affliction. The commander of the Emden afterwards inspected the institute, and expressed himself astonished with the steps which had been taken in New Zealand to educate the blind and make them as comfortable as possible. The great German U-boat ace met one or two returned soldiers and shook them by the hand. He issued a cordial invitation to the workers to visit the Emden on Monday morning next when he would have special officers told off to show them over the boat. The German Consul was presented with a fancy work basket made at the workshop for his wife, and the commander of the Emden and his A.D.C. each received waste paper baskets as mementoes of their visits. The party was conducted round the institute by Mr. Hutchinson, and the deputy-chairman of directors, Mr. E. J. Broadfoot.