The Blind of the British Empire

THE BLIND OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE Canada.—Canada has a widely scattered blind population esti mated at from 5,000 to 7,000. Until the World War attracted attention to the needs of the war-blinded, little was done for civilians. Four schools had been established for juveniles and two industrial institutions which employed under 5o workers. No ac curate statistical record had been attempted.

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind which, since 1916 had become a powerful organization owing to the practical inter est taken in the work for the blind by several blinded Canadian soldiers on their return from a period of training at St. Dunstan's, obtained its federal charter in 1918, its object being to "ameliorate the condition of the blind, and to prevent blindness." Federal grant covers administrative expenses while contributions and provincial government grants finance the practical work which ex tends from sea-board to sea-board and covers Newfoundland. Home-workers are encouraged, but institute factories have been opened. Raw material is supplied at cost and goods not sold locally may be sent to the central salesroom. In the first year of operation 9,00o dollars' worth of goods were sold through the institute; by the ninth year the value had increased to $466,000. Placement work is undertaken and an arrangement has been effect ed with the Workmen's Compensation boards in certain provinces by which the institute pays the premiums on blind persons placed in general industry.

Through the National Council for Child Welfare and similar agencies the National institute locates blind infants and watches over their development. Treatment at birth, to lessen the risk of ophthalmia neonatorum is compulsory in six provinces (1927). From seven to 20 years of age juveniles come under the educa tional authorities of Canada. Sight-saving classes for those with impaired vision have been started in several centres and some provincial governments make special grants to local schools which provide these. Technical training as well as educational in struction is provided in the Canadian schools for the blind and a few scholarships are awarded to particularly promising students.

Training in institute industries is offered to those who lose their sight between the ages of 21 and 5o.

Two out of the nine provinces have adopted a pensions scheme somewhat similar to that in force in England, under which the blind benefit as others, receiving the pension at 7o. The National Institute provides relief in necessitous cases below this age.

Australia.

The Commonwealth made special provision for the permanently blind under the Old Age and Invalid Pensions Act 192o, by which a pension not exceeding L39 per annum may be paid to a blind applicant, provided that his income, together with the pension, does not exceed £ 2 21 per annum "or such other amount as is declared a basic wage." Each individual State pro vides for the education and welfare of the blind on institutional lines. The Victorian and New South Wales schools and institutes for the blind offer particular opportunities for gifted pupils to pass on to the University Conservatorium of Music, while industrial departments provide employment for blind workers in such activ ities as broom- and mat-making. In several of the States, as also Tasmania, Braille writers' associations have been organized for the transcription of books as an adjunct to libraries. In Hobart an active Blind Mutual Progress Society is in being.

South Africa.

There is no relief granted by the Government of the Union of South Africa to persons afflicted with blindness except ex-service men who lost their sight as the result of war service.

There is an institution at Worcester, Cape Province, founded by a blind man, which conducts excellent work in the education of the blind. This institution receives liberal grants from the local educa tion authority. A South African library for the blind was estab lished in 1920 at Grahamstown, and is gradually extending its work of supplying both English and Afrikaans Braille books to blind people in the Union, while recently (19 2 7) the Athlone blind school has been opened for non-European blind children in Capetown, and there are several other small organizations carry ing out social work for the blind in various centres.

New Zealand.

In New Zealand institutes for the blind are financed by the government and through voluntary sources. They educate, train and employ blind persons. As a result of a considerable fund collected in 1922 in memory of Sir Arthur Pear son, the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland, which was founded in 189o, was enabled greatly to extend its work and make provision for the training and welfare of the blind of all ages and both sexes, . throughout the dominion. Here, as in Canada, the return of blinded ex-soldiers after the World War caused a great revival of interest in the blind.

In 1924 a Blind Pensions Act came into operation which en titles those born blind, or who have become blind whilst perma nently resident in New Zealand, whose relatives are unable to pro vide maintenance, to a pension payable at the rate of 145 1os. per annum, provided the applicant be "of good character." The pen sion is not payable to inmates of institutions, nor to those absent from the country. A notable feature of the act is that a blind per son who is employed in any occupation may draw an additional weekly allowance equal to 2 5 io of his total receipts, provided that these do not exceed £3 12s. 6d. per week.

India.

The total number of blind persons in India (census 1921) is 479,637 (including the Indian States). In British India alone there are 73,00o blind and deaf mute children between the ages of five and 15. Thirteen schools for the blind have been estab lished at which the registered attendance is 1,183. These teach basket-making, mat-weaving and music. At the most advanced schools Braille is taught.

The number of blind who earn a livelihood in India is small. One of the most lucrative professions is that of Koran instructor in mosques.

The greater part of the work for the blind is carried on through missionary societies, but the Ministry of Development and district boards make grants to certain schools where an industrial as well as elementary education is in operation, and offer opportunities to those who train as teachers.

A company of blind Boy Scouts was formed in India in 1923, and an establishment of Girl Guides is in contemplation. The Bombay Blind Relief Association is taking preventative and reme dial measures through field-workers in the villages.

Burma.

Out of a population of 13,000,000, about 25,00o are blind. Until the Mission to the Blind of Burma was formed no attempt was made to train these people. The mission gives educa tional and technical instruction to boys and girls, fitting them for industrial life, and selects the more intelligent to be trained as teachers or for the professions. All pupils are taught to read and write in Braille.