CALL ON COMMUNITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1939, Page 5

CALL ON COMMUNITY

WORK OF CRIPPLED CHILDREN

SOCIETY ACTIVITIES OF WAIRARAPA BRANCH. MORE MEMBERS NEEDED. “We have felt during the past six months that our period of probation as a society has come to an end and that much more effective work will be done in the future, largely as the result of the solid groundwork of the past and as the .result of the appointment of the welfare officer, ” observed Mr E. M. Hodder, chairman of the executive, at the annual meeting of the Wairarapa branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society, held last night. The president, Mr S. L. P. Free, occupied the chair and there were twelve members present. Referring to the annual report, previously published, Mr Free said that during the year the society had practically kept within its income, which was a very necessary thing. On the other hand the needs of the-society were growing and it was necessary to find means of increasing the income. It was also important to secure added interest in the activities of the society. The society was doing a great work. The crippled child was apt to be overlooked by-'other members of the community and parents were inclined to keep afflicted children in the background. Those children developed an inferiority complex, which had to be overcome before the child had a chance to become a useful citizen, capable of earning his or her own living. That was the aim of the society. “We want,” he added, “as far as possible to cure their bodies and their minds and to find such vocational training as is best adapted to their capacity and needs.”

SPECIALIST TREATMENT. During the past year they had been able to obtain adequate surgical treatment for some cases. With other cases considerable difficulty had been experienced. At the present time there was more than one case in need of specialist treatment at Wellington Hospital, but unfortunately that hospital was full and the children could not be admitted. It was the aim of the New Zealand society to establish an orthopaedic hospital at the seaside for the treatment of specialist cases. A very great need' existed for such an institution but he could not say when they would be able to exercise sufficient influence on the Government to bring it into being. At meetings of the New Zealand council of the society, • it had been agreed that portion of the Lord Nuffield Trust could well be used for the support of such an institution. It was of first-rate importance for the crippled children to receive specialist treatment and at present the activities of the society were being hampered for lack of facilities.

One very great step forward during the year had been the appointment of a welfare officer. The society had been indeed fortunate to secure the services of Mrs S. N. Kilgour as welfare officer and she was making a very thorough job of her work. On Mr Hodder, chairman of the executive committee, the bulk of the work had fallen and as usual he had done it painstakingly and well. WORK INCREASING. Mr Hodder said the work of the society was one of the jobs in the community that he did take an interest in and lie went on to acknowledge the whole-hearted support and co-opera-tion of members of the executive. Although the work of the society had increased considerably during the past six months there had been no falling off in the interest of members of the executive. Very great help had been received from members of the medical profession throughout the district and they were at all times only too ready and willing to supply information to the society. The assistance and co-oper-ation of Mr Norman Lee, ManagingSecretary of the Wairarapa Hospital Board, and members of the board, had been a wonderful stimulation. Mr Lee had always viewed cases from a humanitarian point of view. The activities of the welfare officer were going to be the most important part of the society's work. The regular visits of a sympathetic and understanding welfare officer must be a wonderful joy to parents. If the society did nothing else but make such visits possible then its work would be well worth while. As a result of that closer contact the work of the society would grow and would become more effective than in the past. Mrs Kilgour was doing really wonderful work. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. • The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Mr S. L. P. Free; vice-presidents, Mr E. M. Hodder, the mayors of towns and the chairmen of county councils in the Wairarapa Hospital Board’s district, the chairmen of the Hospital Board, the Wairarapa and the Tararua Power Boards; general committee, Messrs R. C. Drummond, W. A. Michael, F. L. Price, L. Robinson, E. R. Rogers, N. Lee, R. Smith, F. E. Wells, G. G. Hancox, Mesdames J. Caselberg, Arch Clark, J. W. Perry, H. E. Pither, T. W. Wardell, Misses M. Hodges, K. Kerins, E. V. Cocker and Sister Stewart; Executive committee, Messrs E. M. Hodder, S. L. P. Free, R. C. Drummond, L. Robinson, Mrs H. E. Pither, Miss M. Hodges and Sister Stewart; delegates to New Zealand Society, Mrs H. E. Pither and Mr E. M. Hocider; auditor, Mr D. B. Curry. It was decided to write to members of the medical profession in the district expressing keen appreciation of their assistance and co-operation during the year. MEMBERSHIP DRIVE. Mr Lee said he was at all times only too willing to assist the society whenever possible. The Hospital Board was concerned not only with the care and treatment of patients in hospitals, but also with the health of the whole community. In suggesting a vigorous campaign for increased membership he pointed out that out of the district's population of 36,000 the society (only nad a membership of 52. Mr Free said that, apart from finance, an increased membership was necessary to maintain interest in the work of the society. Mr Hodder said he had been against any active membership drive until the society could justify its existence and point to a concrete programme of work. That programme had now been accomplished and the time had arrived when sufficient results eould.be shown lo justify the existence of the society. They could now confidently appeal for an increased membership. A larger membership was very necessary from a financial point of view as their expenditure would certainly be higher this year as the result of the additional contacts made by the welfare officer. The vocational side of their work would also be developed to a greatei degree and that would involve additional expenditure. There was no gua .-antee that the grant from the Government would be continued and one ol •:he safest sources of income was from i large membership. It was agreed that the general committee should undertake an active lampaign for members and report ti i general meeting in three months time.

Votes of thanks were passed to the auditor and to the secretaries. Mcssn Dunderdale and Gray.