MOTHER AND SON TEA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1939, Page 7

MOTHER AND SON TEA

GATHERING AT Y.M.CA. I WORK AMONG THE BLIND. INTERESTING ADDRESS BY MRS. PITHER. Mrs. G. Beecrnft presided over an attendance of one hundred and fifty at the annual Mother and Son Tea organised by the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Masterton Y.M.C.A. when mothers and sons alike spent a thoroughly enjoyable time. Full justice was done to the good things provided on well-laden tables, and members of an energetic committee provided excellent service in attending to the guests. Mrs. H. E. Pither delivered a splendid address, taking as her subject. “The Blind.” Mrs. Pither. who covered a wide field connected with the operations of. the Blind Institute, in a remarkably short time, showed the difficulties which beset the blind, and their ideals and their hopes and the happiness they obtained out of life despite their handicap. Contrary to the general belief, many of the blind, cannot read Braille, particularly the aged, who have lost the sensitive touch in the finger tips, said Mrs. Pither. This had now been overcome, thanks to Lord Nuffield’s generosity, as novels, etc., were recorded on gramophone discs, which are used to build up talking libraries. The ' Talking Book Library had 600 blind readers and now comprised 120 titles and 2500 records. A 12-inch Talking Book record is made to revolve for 25 minutes. Ten to 15 single-sided records make an average length novel. Each Talking Book is packed into a container, which is delivered to the reader for 2d. The librarian asserts that the blind are keen readers of thrillers, said the speaker. “The Seeing Eye” was also dealt with by Mrs. Pither. The “Seeing Eye” is a special school for the blind at Morristown, New Jersey, New York. In 1923 a Mrs. Dorothy Eustis had an estate in Switzerland and there as a hobby she istarted to breed and train German 'shepherd dogs. There she found that the intelligence of the dogs was unbellievable. A dog she trained was brought to New York and tested, as was a dog trained by a friend. In the crowded metropolis the dogs, leading blind persons, performed perfectly, stopping at corners and watching the traffic until it had passed and it was safe to go ahead. Thus the "Seeing Eye” school was formed. A most familiar incident in this connection was the recent refusal to admit into England a blind girl, Hazel Hurst, from New York, as her “seeing eye” dog had to go into quarantine. The pair remained oh board the ship until sailing time, when through the intervention of Ambassador Joseph Kennedy she was permitted to land with the dog. Mrs. Pither went on to refer in detail to the many individual cases of blindness she had been in contact with. The Wairarapa district, which extended from Pahiatua to Featherston, had 10 cases, and there were four not -in the district, but assisted by the local committee.

Mrs. Pither received a hearty vote of thanks for her informative address. Master B. Finlayson' presented Mrs. Pither with a beautiful bouquet, the work of Mrs. Scharnwebber. Mrs. W. G. Perry was the accompaniste. Mrs. Alexander contributed two delightful solos. The toast of Mother was duly honoured. > Graeme Lyttle contributed an amusing recitation and a duet was nicely played by Masters Finlayson. Mrs. Beecroft, on behalf of the Auxiliary, thanked all who had in any way assisted to make the gathering such a success.