BLIND (EDUCATION, EMPLOY MENT, AND MAINTENANCE). (Hansard, 25 November 1919)

§ Mr. S. WALSH

I beg to move, That leave be given to introduce a Bill to provide for the tecanical education, employment, and maintenance of the Blind. In asking the House to grant me leave to introduce this Bill, I am sure that I can at once bespeak the sympathy of every Member of this House, and practically of all the constituents which they represent outside. There is no more pathetic sight with which hon. Members are acquainted than that of the indigent blind begging for charity at street corners, or living upon the charity of their friends, and altogether at the mercy of circum stances over which they themselves have no control. There is really no more pathetic sight and no greater infliction which can befall humanity than the loss of sight. In introducing this Bill, which is entirely non-controversial, and for which we bespeak the support of all parties, there is not the slightest intention of casting any reflections upon those admirable institutions which already exist for dealing with the conditions of the blind. Many of them will occur to the minds of 1636 Members. Nothing is more admirable than the work which they are doing. There are, however, a vast number of organisations that really do not come within that description, and which, in stead of doing their very best for the blind, too often utilise the blind, exploit them, and make a very good living out of their necessities and out of the charity of the wealthy. It is really wonderful how long the country has delayed setting the law right on this mater. While we do not in any sense depreciate the admirable work that is done by these institutions, we say that this is a matter for which the State should undertake a definite responsibility. The condition of the blind, the necessity for their better education, the necessity for their maintenance, the payment of proper wages, and the helping of the institutions, many of them most trust worthy, are matters which ought not any longer to be left to private charity. Wonderful institutions do exist, but they exist under conditions that must really take the hope out of the hearts of those responsible for their management, and it is time, and more than time, that the State recognised its responsibility.

4.0 P.M.

It is an amazing reality to what extent the blind help themselves. Very surprising is the very praiseworthy versatility they show; many of them, after a comparatively short time of technical training, are able to earn quite substantial wages. In many cases they are able to maintain themselves and their families; in other cases they are able to earn a very substantial contribution towards the cost of their maintenance. But we ought to recognise that this kind of training should not be left to private initiative. The State itself ought to recognise its full responsibility. The Bill I have the honour to introduce this afternoon recognises the extremely good work that many exiting institutions are performing, but it will provide for the State, through the municipalities, coming to their assistance on definite lines. It will also provide for the technical training of those capable of receiving training for a period not exceeding five years. There comes a time in the life of every man or woman when probably the hand has lost much of its cunning, and the Bill therefore provides that no persons exceeding the age of fifty years shall be placed under training, as it is probable that at that age they have lost the faculty of receiving such instruction as would 1637 enable them to become effective wage earners. These institutions properly approved by the Minister of Health or the Secretary of State will have substantial grants made to them by the municipalities which, in turn, will receive the amount from the State. The Bill directs attention to the fact that blind persons cannot of themselves provide adequate training or find employment. It will, therefore, be the duty of the elected authority, acting through the State, to find employment for these people when they have had real effective training. That duty ought not any longer to be left to the almost hope less initiative of the blind person himself; there ought to be some authority on whom the obligation should devolve. The institutions now existent are insufficient to provide technical training and employment. Here, again, we say that good as the work is that is being done by many of them, they really could do much more and exceedingly better work if they were backed up by the resources of the State upon which they really have a claim, because of the work they have hitherto performed.

The third point the Bill points out is that many persons, consequent on their blindness, cannot earn wages adequate for their maintenance. Every Member of this House will agree it is desirable that their powers should be utilised to the full, and under proper conditions, so that they should not become, as they often do, objects of charity. We, ourselves, acting on behalf of the nation, should, therefore, recognise our real obligation to these people, and make them self-respecting as far as can be done, so that they themselves may take an interest in their work. If we go on these lines we shall do a great deal towards removing from ourselves that reproach which we have too long borne. Then I come to the case of those who can not earn anything at all. Of those over fifty years of age, many have lost their sight after they have been working for the greater portion of their lives, and have been good citizens—and I am aware that my Friends the miners' agents, Members of this House, know many folk who really have been very good citizens, have worked in the mines, and have brought up their families, but yet in their later years have lost their sight. Such cases as these bespeak the deepest human sympathy. These people have lost the faculty of be coming wage earners in any avocation 1638 other than that to which they have been accustomed for the greater portion of their lives, and we believe the time has arrived when not the small paltry pittance these poor blind people can earn should be their portion, but that the State should say, "We must keep these folk from the work house, where they will cost very much more to maintain. We want to prevent them losing their faculties. We desire to prevent them losing hope, becoming a burden, having no joys in life, and there fore we think it would be very much better for the State to step in and enable them to become self-respecting citizens and keep within themselves the highest possible degree of self-respect. We will, therefore, help these institutions which have been doing such excellent work and we will destroy those institutions that have simply been exploiting these people."We recognise that there is a definite State responsibility, and although everybody realises that in these days one must examine every penny that is spent, let us remember there are not more than, per haps, 30,000 of these unfortunate people in the whole Kingdom. Certainly not more than one-third of that number are employed at all, and the chances are that no more than about one-tenth of them are beneficially employed, so that is the extent of the reproach under which the nation lies at present. We are agreed, I am sure, that the State should recognise its direct re sponsibilities. We may in the past have disagreed as to whether the State should come in to help adults capable of helping themselves. I remember long debates in this House as to whether the hours of workpeople should be interfered with by the State at all. But in our hearts there is no single man but will agree that in these cases where people are entirely unable to help themselves, and where they are suffering from an affliction the most patriotic man can labour under, there, in deed, the State should come to there aid. I therefore hope the House will give this Bill the First Reading to-night.