BLIND SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1920, Page 5

BLIND SOLDIERS.

SCHEME TO HELP THEM. A SPECIAL FUND PROPOSED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A proposal that a fund of £20,000 he established f ( or the future care of New Zealand blinded soldiers %vas made to the Advisory Board of the War Relief Societies by Mr. Clutha Mackenzie this morning. So far, he said, Winded soldiers had been looked after very well, but wo should look to the future, and draw up a definite plan. There were twentyfive blinded soldiers in New Zealand, and their future should be provided for. The best way would be to make the blind soldier happy, and to keep him busy by giving him plenty to do. Poultry farming was specially suitable for such men, but blind men could not make this pay, and he suggested thercforo that a definite fund should be created by which the earnings of fhese men would be subsidised £ for £. Sixteen societies had approved of this scheme.

Mr. Witt said the commercial travellers' fund for blinded soldiers totalled £3365. It was decided: "That this Board advises the various patriotic societies oi New Zealand to set apart, on a population basis, a sum of £IO,OOO for the welfare of blind soldiers, such sum to be vested in trustees and invested on any security authorised by the Trustee Act, 1908, or any. amendment or Act passed in substitution therefor, the income from such investments to accumulate for at least five years." "That for the immediate after-care of blind soldiers patriotic societies be recommended to continue to assist in a similar maimer to what hag been done in the past, and that the commercial travellers,' fund be asked to provide for the supervision and assistance suggested by Mr. Clutha Mackenzie." It was also agreed that the Government be approached to anpoint a repatriation officer to attend to the aftercare of blinded soldiers.