Publications Archive

1930/31 RNIB Annual Report

Summary: RNIB annual report for year ending March 31, 1931

• Prefatory Note
• The National Institute For the Blind: A Brief Sketch of its Growth and Functions
• Report of the Executive Council of the National Institute for the Blind for the Financial Year ended 31^st March, 1931
• Students Library and manuscript braille books (See Plate II.)
• Embossed Music and Blind Musicians (See Plate VI)
• Provision of Apparatus and Technical Research (See Plate III.)
• Employment and Employment Research (See Plate IV)
• Personal Services to the Blind (See Plate V)
• Homes for Blind Babies (See Plate IX)
• Chorleywood College for Blind Girls (See Plate XI)
• Massage School and Settlement of Blind Masseurs. (See Plate VII)
• Homes and Hostels: (See Plates V and VIII.)
• Imperial and International Co-operation
• Obituary
• Conclusion
• General Charity Fund – Account for the year ended 31^st March, 1931
• Braille Publications and apparatus: Account for the year ended 31^st March, 1931
• Home Industries department – Charitable Assistance Account for the Year ended 31^st March, 1931
• Trading Account for the Year ended 31^st March, 1931
• Home for Blind Babies – Account for the Year ended 31^st March, 1931
• Chorleywood College for Girls with little or no sight: Account for year ended 31^st March, 1931
• Some of the institutes - Account for the Year ended 31^st March, 1931
• Funds - Accounts for the Year ended 31^st March, 1931
• Clifton Home for Blind Women, Bristol – Balance sheet 31^st march, 1931
• National Institute for the Blind – Investments, 31^st March, 1931

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Prefatory Note

This Report has been compiled with the express purpose of arousing or stimulating interest in the welfare of the 55,000 blind people of England and Wales. It is, therefore, something more than an account of a year's activities; it is a full, illustrated narrative of the work of the National Institute for the Blind, written with the past in memory and the future in view, and forming, it is hoped, a picture in outline of a striving, progressive community. Only personal observation Call supply the colours, tones and shades of that picture, and the Institute's Executive Council trust that all readers of the Report will sooner or later inspect for themselves the Institute's work. Special facilities for inspection are provided on Wednesdays - Visitors' Day - at 2.45 and also on Mondays and Fridays at the same time. The blind staff are not at work on Saturday morning.

Certain coloured forms are inserted in the Report for the convenience of those who wish to show their sympathy with the Institute's objects. These are:

1. (Blue.) A bankers' order form by which annual subscriptions can be paid direct through a bank; and on the other side--

2. (Blue.) A simple subscription or donation form

3. (Pink.) A covenanted subscription form (see page 11).

4. (Yellow.) A form of bequest, and a form of codicil to a Will.

A copy of this Report is being sent free of charge to those who have generously supported the Institute in the past. They will render additional service to the Institute if, when they have finished with the Report, they will pass it on to friends whom they think it will be likely to interest. Further copies can be supplied at 1s each, post free.

The National Institute For the Blind: A Brief Sketch of its Growth and Functions

The foundation of the National Institute for the Blind was laid in 1868, when the British and Foreign Blind Association came into being, under the direction of Dr TR Armitage, who, by bringing about the adoption in England of the Braille system of reading and writing, rendered the sightless people of this country inestimable service. The Association became a centre for the supply of embossed books and music, maps and apparatus, and in 1902 was transformed from a semi-private undertaking into an incorporated society.

The work was gradually developed until the erection of new premises became necessary. In 1914, Sir Arthur Pearson succeeded in raising the necessary amount of money, and the present Headquarters were Opened by Their Majesties the King and Queen, the Association being re-named the National Institute for the Blind.

From 1914 to 1920 was a period of intensive growth, when many of the activities described in the following pages were begun or more widely developed, and when the foundations were laid for a truly national policy. The direct furtherance of local work for the blind was considered to be a most important part of the Institute's functions as a national institution, and large sums of money were distributed annually by the Institute as grants to Local Agencies for the Blind.

In 1020, however, the Blind Persons Act was passed and necessitated many changes in existing and contemplated activities. The Act, in addition to granting old-age pensions to the blind at the age of 50 instead of 70, imposed a duty on all County and County Borough Councils to make arrangements for the promotion of the welfare of the blind resident in their respective areas.

The National Institute, and Agencies for the Blind generally, recognised and welcomed the great advance marked in the Blind World by the passing of the Act, and sought to co-operate with County and County Borough Councils in evolving some means by which national and local services could be dovetailed one into the other so as to form a comprehensive scheme for the national welfare of the blind.

Prior to the passing of the Act, the National Institute had accomplished much important work in connection with the relief of the blind poor, and the home teaching of the blind throughout the country. The Schemes of the County and County Borough Councils made under the Act transferred these and similar strictly local services to Local Agencies for the Blind, leaving the Institute free to supplement them when necessary and to extend its activities in other directions, such as the increased publication of embossed books and music, the initiation of new Braille periodicals, the provision of additional homes for blind babies and a national convalescent home, the development of wireless facilities for the blind, and research work in connection with apparatus and employment.

In 1925 the relationship between the National Institute and Local Agencies was strongly reinforced by the re-constitution of the Institute's Council on a more representative basis. To the 19 existing members of the Council were added 17 members representing other national bodies and Local Agencies, and the Scheme for the Unification of Collections (see page 11) was initiated. The financial success of this Scheme was one of the first beneficial results of national co-operation, and in general the re- constitution of the Institute's Council led to the betterment of the relationships between Agencies for the Blind in all parts of the country.

The present year - 1931- has witnessed an even bolder step forward in the same direction.

The Institute's Council has again been re-constituted. It will in future number 62, and be predominantly a representative body directly elected by organisations for and of the blind throughout the country.

This step is singularly opportune, as it should strengthen and consolidate voluntaryism in work for the blind at a time when municipalisation is much ill the foreground. It should be clearly understood by the general public that purely official action cannot produce what their blind fellow citizens need. They do not wish to subsist at the public expense, but claim the fight of being self-reliant and self-supporting men and women.

The services rendered by the National Institute to the blind of this country are described in detail in the following pages. Every one of those services is essential to the welfare of the blind; every one depends for support upon voluntary contributions; and every one fits in with, or supplements, the services rendered by the Local Agencies.

National and Local Agencies for the Blind, State and Local Authorities, are to-day working in unison and concord, and it is hoped that the next decade will not only rival but surpass the past decade in the extent and value of its achievement for the 55,000 blind people of this country.

As a most honourable Corollary to its national work, the Institute has a duty to fulfil towards the blind of the British Empire, and recent developments of Imperial work are related on page 61.

Blindness constitutes a world-wide problem, and to solve it the Institute is working in co-operation with welfare work for the blind in all parts of the world.

Mr EV Lucas, the distinguished author, paid a visit to the Institute during the past year and described, in his " Wanderer's Notebook ", his impressions of " that marvellous building in Great Portland Street." He concluded his account with the following words: "It is stimulating and comforting to reflect that beneath the surface vulgarity, commonness, sensationalism and noisy clamour of modern life, all this quiet work for the blind is going on; and I came away with the thought that if ever a benevolent institution was worth support it is this one."

Report of the Executive Council of the National Institute for the Blind for the Financial Year ended 31st March, 1931

Constancy of Supporters

The year ended March 31st, 1931, has been a time of general industrial depression, but we are thankful to report that, despite this fact, the services rendered during the year by the National Institute for the Blind to the sightless people of this country have been fully maintained.

This is entirely due to the unfailing generosity of the loyal friends who have helped us continuously for years past, and to the enlistment of many new supporters. However hard the times may be, our appeals for the blind always meet with a ready response, and the year under review has been no exception to the rule. To old and new subscribers alike we offer our deepest thanks.

Our deepest thanks are also due to the thousands of people who year in, year out, assist us to carry on our work by indefatigable personal service in connection with the many money-raising activities organised in aid of the Institute.

Gratitude of the Blind

In offering our thanks, we wish it to be understood that we are speaking for the blind themselves. Their gratitude is heartfelt. The assistance afforded them is as gratefully received as it is graciously given, and they axe showing their sense of its value in the best possible way - by helping themselves with courage and industry.

Benefits of Legacies

A source of income which has greatly helped us in overcoming the financial difficulties of the year is the legacy. The total sum bequeathed to the Institute during the period under review amounted to £20,637, and we give below details of each legacy received:

	£	s.	d.
Allan, Mrs Jessy Constance	9	0	0
Baldock, Miss Lilian Maud	568	5	4
Blundell, James John	1000	0	0
Butler, Mrs Sarah	500	0	0
Burton, Frank Clement	100	0	0
Berry, John William	100	0	0
Bowden, Mrs Emily Jane	5	0	0
Brand, Miss Sarah Caroline	90	0	0
Campbell-Walker, Mrs Constance	150	0	0
Chapman, Robert Henry	250	0	0
Chapman, Miss Mary Ellen	50	0	0
Clarke, Mrs Florence Jane	1,765	3	0
Cockshott, Sidney	898	8	8
Collbran, Mrs Margaret Blair	750	0	0
Carried Forward	6,235	17	0
	£	s.	d.
Brought Forward	6,235	17	0
Dangerfield, Mrs Lucy Elizebeth	500	0	0
Davies, Miss Margaret Elizebeth	100	0	0
Delamere, Mrs Christina	400	0	0
Duncan, Mrs Malcolm	73	1	5
Evans, Mrs Margaret	100	0	0
Etty, Miss Mary Lucy	32	3	5
Fare, Frederick William	25	0	0
Gordon, Lady Esme	1,475	0	0
Gough, Henry Powell	250	0	0
Gilbertson James	29	15	11
Hammond, Miss Jane	100	0	0
Carried Forward	£9,320	17	9
	£	s.	d.
Brought Forward	9,320	17	9
Howard, Charlie	359	4	8
Holdron, Harry Thomas	100	0	0
Hutchinson, Mrs Charlotte	75	0	0
Haslop, Mrs AJ	5	0	0
Jones, Mrs Elizebeth	90	0	0
Jackson, Mrs Fanny Radley	1000	0	0
Long, Mrs Mabel Edith	21	5	3
Lyntham, Edward	3,166	5	10
Minet, Miss Annie	50	0	0
Meharry, Mrs Martha Roberta	100	0	0
Murray, Mrs Isabella	120	0	0
Olley, Miss Ethel Violet	100	0	0
Pittard, Ebenezer	10	0	0
Pearson, James Winder	400	0	0
Carried Forward	14,917	13	6
Brought Forward	14,917	13	6
Pearson, Miss Ann	125	0	0
Pickard, Miss	50	0	0
Packham, Mrs Phoebe Elizabeth	50	0	0
Penn, Mrs EG	150	0	0
Rundle, Miss Emma	2,014	2	0
Stephenson, Thomas	86	1	3
Sykes, George Burkinshear	100	0	0
Samuel, Edward	131	15	3
Tennant, John	50	0	0
Thrower, Herbert Samuel	2,597	13	1
Tucker, Miss Louisa Susannah	200	0	0
Western, Mrs Hannah	44	19	6
Williams, James Ralph	120	0	0
	20,637	4	7

In addition, legacies amounting to £4,542 were bequeathed to the Institute during the year for specific purposes, as detailed below:

De Jong, Miss Constance	4322	4	11

	£	s.	d.	Location
Bowers, Mrs Madeline	100	0	0	Sunshine House, Southport
Huggett, Henry Edwar Vaux	100	0	0	Sunshine House, East Grnstead
Wilson, William Henry	20	0	11	Sunshine House, Southport

It is surprising how regularly the Institute has benefited, for many years now, from the sympathy which is not terminated by death. There is immortality in human kindness, and today blind people are helped to pass useful and happy lives by people whose lives have ended long ago. In times of financial stress, the very unexpectedness of a legacy adds to its value, and in expressing our gratitude to the benefactors who are no longer with us, we venture to hope that their example will be followed by those who recognise that the work of the Institute is not work for a single generation but has its springs in the past and its fullness in the future.

Gravity of Present Position

The future depends, however, on the present, and although deeply thankful for the help we have received during the past year, we feel it is our duty to emphasise the gravity of the present position. We have successfully weathered rough seas, but we fear that there are rougher seas ahead, and we earnestly beg all our present supporters to continue to help us. It has frequently been remarked that although poverty can be relieved and sickness cured, there is no end to blindness. The blind are always blind, and however much blind people may progress the handicap of sightlessness will always require some form of assistance.

Value of Annual Subscriptions

We have pointed out in previous Reports that one of the most valuable forms of help is the annual subscription, and we hope that everyone who has sent a donation to the Institute during the past year will become an annual subscriber this year. We also hope that all regular subscribers will become subscribers of covenanted subscriptions.

How to Increase Annual Subscriptions without Cost

Apparently it has not yet been fully realised that by signing a Covenant agreeing to pay a subscription for seven years, subscribers can considerably increase the value of their subscriptions to the Institute without additional cost to themselves. Such an agreement enables the Institute to reclaim from the Inland Revenue Authorities the mount already paid in Income Tax by the subscriber on the amount of the subscription. Let us take an example: A subscriber who sends £1 per annum to the Institute has to pay 4s. 6d., as Income Tax on that £1, to the Inland Revenue Authorities. But by signing a seven years' Covenant he enables the Institute to reclaim the Income Tax on his contribution. In other words, the Covenant enables him to give something like twenty-five shillings' worth of benefit to the blind for the £1 which he contributes. This is so obviously to the advantage of both the blind and the subscriber that we hope that all our annual subscribers will sign the covenanted subscription form inserted in this Report (pink form, No. 3). It should be noted that the death of a subscriber automatically terminates the Covenant.

We shall be pleased to send full particulars of covenanted subscriptions to our readers if they will kindly apply for them.

Insurance Policies

A rather novel method of providing a legacy to the Institute is to take out an Insurance Policy in favour of the Institute for a capital sum payable at the death of the donor; in most cases this would have the effect of reducing the donor's liability for Income Tax. Full particulars of the necessary procedure will also be sent on application.

National Council of Social Service

We also again point out the usefulness to subscribers of the National Council of Social Service, 26, Bedford Square, W.C.1, which undertakes to distribute subscriptions to any list of Societies selected by the subscriber and to recover Income Service Tax on the subscriptions given. We venture to hope that present subscribers to the National Council will include the Institute on their list.

More Personal Service Needed

We shall be very grateful to receive further offers of personal service in connection with the organisation of functions and entertainments in aid of the Institute's funds. Many people modestly imagine that the financial results of their own efforts in these directions may be too small to be useful, but we can assure them that this is not so; the smallest sum is welcome, and we ask every one who is willing to help, to get into touch with our Headquarters or with one of our Branch Secretaries, whose names and addresses are given on page 3. The Institute's officials will do all they possibly can to assist every individual effort.

Unification of Collections

Here is no doubt that work for the blind throughout the country has considerably benefited during the past year from the Scheme, approved by the Ministry of Health and adopted by us in 1925, for the Unification of Collections. The Scheme is working satisfactorily, and approximately three-quarters of England and Wales is now covered by agreements eliminating competition in collections:

The agreements are between the National Institute and the National Library for the Blind on the one part and Local Agencies for the Blind on the other part. Collecting agreements have been made with 88 Societies (see list on pages 79-80), including Societies in the Metropolitan area who are parties to the Greater London Fund for the Blind, a central Fund initiated by the Institute in 1920.

Developments During the year

During the year two new areas, Stockport and Preston, have come into the During the Unification Scheme. The agreement with the Bradford Royal Institution for the Year Blind has been terminated, owing to the fact that the municipality has now taken over the responsibility for all services to the blind in the Bradford area, while the incorporation of the Cardiff Institution for the Blind and the Newport and Monmouth- shire Blind Aid Society ha the South Wales and Monmouthshire Counties Association has led to one agreement with the latter Association instead of three separate agreements with the three organisations.

Happy Results of Unification

The British " Wireless for the Blind " Fund.

As an example of the satisfactory working of the Unification Scheme we quote the following extract from a report received from the South-Western Area:

"The happy relationship existing between the National Institute and the County Associations for the Blind of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, together with the Institutions of Exeter and Plymouth, has been well maintained. For nearly three years the South-Western Counties Collecting Committee, comprising representatives from all these agencies, has functioned with growing satisfaction. Regular quarterly meetings axe held promoting a better understanding of the difficulties besetting individual organisations. The financial arrangements give equal pleasure, one Society stating that 'whereas a few years ago they talked in shillings, they now operate with pounds. The Committee is have to the value of cooperative effort, and its members contribute their quota of service to the fund-raising activities.

Warm appreciation of the efforts of the National Institute's Branch Secretary has been expressed and placed on record."

The Year's Allocations and Grants

The allocations and grants made by the Institute during the year ended March 31st. 1931, amounted to £19,803. Of these, tile allocations under percentage agreements to Local Agencies in areas where the Institute collects amounted to a total of £18,485, and are shown in detail in a table appended to this Report (see page 78). The fixed and special grants (indicated in the table by an asterisk) made by tile Institute irrespective of agreements amounted to a total of £1,318.

Amongst the latter, of special interest are the grants made to the Union o5 Counties Associations for the Blind for work relative to the prevention of blindness; to Worcester College for the Blind for tile placement and after-care of boys educated at the College; and to the National Union of the Professional and Industrial Blind to assist in meeting the expenses of a deputation sent by the Union to examine the conditions of blind musicians and pianoforte tuners in France and Germany.

The allocations received by the Institute from Local Agencies in areas where the Local Agencies collect, and from the Greater London Fund, amounted to a total of £13,969.

Allocations made by the Institute to the National Library for the Blind as a party to all collecting agreements amounted to £4,078.

The British “Wireless for the Blind” Fund

The success of the British " Wireless for the Blind" Fund is another example of what unification Call do. This Fund was initiated at Christmas, 1929, with the object of providing every blind person in Great Britain and Northern Ireland with a wireless set. It was estimated that 20,000 blind people were unequipped with wireless sets and had no means o5 obtaining them. To date the sum of £36,500 has been raised and 13,000 sets have been distributed; and by the time this Report is published we hope that every one of the 7,000 blind people who are without sets, as we write these words, will possess or be about to possess them.

The success of the Fund, as we have indicated, is undoubtedly due to the fact that it has been presided over by a Committee, of which Captain Sir Beachcroft Towse, VC, is Chairman, and Captain Ian Fraser, CBE, Vice-Chairman, representing all Societies for the Blind throughout the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

That Committee has appealed for tile necessary funds only to wireless listeners. No widespread appeals have been made except through the microphone. The wireless listener and the wireless trade have subscribed the money, and the general public, except as listeners, have not been pestered by "yet another appeal." Furthermore, the Committee has utilised to the full the services of the Counties Associations and Local Agencies for the Blind in collecting data as to wireless requirements and in distributing tile sets. There has been unification and co-operation all round, and as a result, in less than two years the Fund will have fulfilled its object, not by over- whelming other appeals and by being oblivious of other needs, but by continually bearing in mind those needs and always being considerate of other appeals.

We desire to place on record our deep appreciation of the wholehearted assistance of Agencies for the Blind and the most generous support of the listening public afforded to a Fund which we were instrumental in establishing. Special mention must be made of the invaluable assistance of the President of the Fund, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, whose personal appeal at a dinner, given in the Spring by the Clothworkers' Company, was broadcast throughout the country; of the Right Hon Winston Churchill, whose broadcast appeals on Christmas Day, 1929 and 1930, secured a large proportion of the money; and of the British Broadcasting Corporation, whose officials have devoted so much time and "energy to the Fund.

Embossed Books, Newspapers and Magazines (See Plate I.)

The main object of the founders of the British and Foreign Blind Association, the parent body of the National Institute, was the production of literature and music m Braille, the embossed type which is read by the fingers of the blind. They began in a very small way, but the foundations of a national publishing house for the blind of this country were wisely and surely laid, for to-day the National Institute is the largest publishing house for the blind in the world, and the total number of its embossed publications is rapidly approaching five millions.

The Year’s Braille Production

The number of books and periodicals published during the year by the Institute was as follows:

Bound Volumes, General Literature 27,136

Pamphlets 15,203

Magazines 234,688

Newspapers 345,812

Literature Plates stereotyped (books, magazines and newspapers) 22,636

The output for the year is, on the whole, greater than it has been for many years. Compared with the previous year's figures, the most notable increase is in the number of bound volumes produced 27,136 compared with 17,257. This is mainly due to the installation of the Rotary Press, reported last year.

Success of Rotary Press

The Institute's Rotary Press is the latest type of Braille printing press and can print 16,000 pages per hour as compared with the 3,200 pages per hour of the Institute's other presses. Of recent years, the number and circulation of Braille periodicals have greatly increased, and before the installation of the Rotary Press the printing of periodicals seriously interfered with the printing of books. The Rotary Press, by concentrating on the printing of Braille periodicals with large circulations, has now freed the other presses for the printing of thousands of books for which plates had already been stereotyped with the Braille characters, and to-day our Printing Department is able to meet, without delay, the normal demand for Braille literature of all kinds.

To prevent congestion in future, we have authorised the purchase of another Rotary Press whenever there are signs of undue pressure in the Printing Department.

All kinds of books published

The choice of works to be published in Braille is a difficult task, as the literary tastes of the blind are as varied as those of people with sight. We have always had the great advantage, however, of the advice of the distinguished literary men who serve on our Literature Consultative Committee (see page 2), and of the men and women with a special knowledge of the Blind World who are co-opted on our Publications Sub-Committee (see page 2), and we believe that the following titles, selected from the hundreds of Braille books issued during the year, show that our publications are not confined by the limits established by the personal tastes of a few individuals.

Religious - Boys and Girls Life of Christ, (Paterson-Smyth), What Christ means to Me (Grenfell).

Classics - Discourses of Epictetus.

Educational - The Human Geographies

Belles Lettres - Autobiography of a Super-Tramp (Davies), Saki’s Bowl (Blatchford)

Literary Criticism – Swinburne (Nicholson), Shakespeare Criticism

Humour – The Bab Ballads (Gilbert)

Poetry – Hyperion (Keats)

History – Short History of Western Civilisation (Hattersley)

Natural History – Natural History of Selborne

Translation – Honey Bee (Anatole France)

Classical Fiction – Sylvia’s Lovers (Gaskell), Old Mortality (Scott)

Current Fiction – Limehouse Nights (Burke), Crusade (Byrne), The Return (de la Mare), The Bridge of San Luis Rey (Wilder), The good companions (Priestley), Mr Standfast (Buchan), The arrow of Gold (Conrad), The Forsyte Saga (Galsworthy)

Thrillers - No Other Tiger (Mason), Dope (Sax Rohmer), The Viaduct Murder (Knox).

Books passing through the press include works by the following:

Classic Authors - Robert Herrick, John Milton, John Dryden, Jane Austen, George Eliot, Anthony Trollope, Alexandre Dumas.

Modern Authors - Charles Whibley, Edward Thomas, Stanley Weyman, A Conan Doyle, WJ Locke, Rupert Brooke, Arnold Bennett

Living authors - Stephen Leacoek, Raphael Sabatini, Rudyard Kipling, HG Wells, Eden Phillpotts, Joan Sutherland, AP Herbert.

All authors, publishers and other owners of copyright, invariably grant us permission to issue Braille editions free of all copyright fees.

New Educational Books

We have always considered the production in Braille of the latest educational books as a most important feature of our work. Many new educational works are well in hand, including a series of readers, beginning in uncontracted Braille, gradually introducing the various Braille contractions, and culminating in the fully contracted Braille used in the majority of the Institute's publications.

Large Demand for Braille Editions of the Bible

In our Report for 1928-9 we stated that the new compact edition of the authorised version of the Bible had been completed and that 4,000 separate volumes had been printed and distributed. It is gratifying now to report that since then a further 2,680 volumes have been distributed, bringing the total number of volumes distributed to 6,680. The publication of an edition of the revised version of the Bible in the same format has been begun this year. The final portions of the Bible in Arabic, which has been produced for the British and Foreign Bible Society, have been finished. Nearly 1,200 volumes of this work were produced during the year and many reprints of various portions have been necessary--points of interest, as they prove the value of issuing Braille editions of books in foreign languages and encourage us to continue in a work which is gradually enlightening the ignorance of the thousands of blind people who, in backward nations, are still in a mental darkness infinitely more pitiable than their physical darkness.

Several publications of the Scripture Gift Mission have been produced for that body during the year, and Braille editions of many miscellaneous devotional works are in hand.

In this respect it should be noted that our policy is entirely non-sectarian ; we endeavour to meet the religious needs of the blind irrespective of the Church or Sect to which they belong.

“The Universe Around us”

"The Universe Around Us," by Sir James Jeans, that scientific "best-seller," is being produced in Braille and will be extensively illustrated with embossed diagrams. The making of the necessary drawings for these is a long, costly process, but every effort is being made to expedite publication.

Revision of Braille Instructional Books

The various primers and instructional books in Braille have been in course of Braille revision throughout the year and will shortly be published. They are in accordance Instructional with the revision of the rules of Braille, also made during the year by the Braille Books.

Uniform Type Committee, on which our own Braille experts serve. We have sought to ensure the permanence of this Committee and the continuity of its work by offering our help in all possible ways, such as the provision of secretarial assistance, accommodation for meetings, etc.

When the Braille Primer is published we have agreed to issue inkprint and Braille editions in South African Dutch for the use of the Deaf and Blind Institute, Worcester, Cape Province.

Revised Catalogue of Braille Books

We issue each quarter a Supplementary Catalogue in inkprint containing details of all new literary and musical publications in Braille and Moon types and additions of Braille to the three Students' Libraries--Literature, Music and Massage (see list of catalogues Books on page 20). These details are also printed in Braille in a free monthly Supplement to all our Braille periodicals, and appear every month in our inkprint periodical "The New Beacon." But in view of the great number of new publications we considered that it was necessary to issue a revised edition of the complete Catalogue, not only in letterpress but also in Braille. The work of revision has involved a considerable mount of labour, and to make the Catalogue of real value to the blind reader brief descriptions of each work have been included. We hope that by the time this Report appears in print the new letterpress Catalogue will be available and that the Braille edition of it will be well on the way towards completion. The latter will be an expensive production but we hope to issue it at a merely nominal charge.

In this connection, it is of interest to note that during the year we published for the New York State Library a Braille edition of the complete catalogue of books in British Grade II, Braille contained in that Library.

Embossed Periodicals

The total number of periodicals published in embossed type by the Institute is 20. Of these 11 are issued and published by the Institute, two are published by the Institute in conjunction with other bodies, and seven are published by the Institute for other bodies (see list of periodicals on page 17).

New Periodicals

We have undertaken the publication of two new periodicals during the year: "The Braille Rainbow," a quarterly magazine for the Deaf-Blind, published jointly by the Institute and the National Deaf-Blind Helpers' League; and "The Royal Normal College Old Students' Guild Bulletin," published three times a year for the Guild by the Institute.

Increasing Circulation

It is most satisfactory to report that the circulation of all our own publications has risen during the year and, to judge from the hundreds of appreciative letters received, their value and interest to readers has been steadily maintained. The rapid success of the Braille edition of " Punch" and of "' The Venture," a magazine for blind Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, which has recently been increased in size, has been remarkable, while the "Braille Radio Times" is becoming more and more a necessity to every blind person possessing a wireless set. We have already anthorised an increase in the size of the" Braille Radio Times" so that more detailed programmes can be given and articles of interest to blind listeners included, and we hope that it will not be long before the paper is issued in its new form.

Increasing Demand for Braille

We have also considered the enlargement of the "Braille Mail" or alternatively its issue twice instead of once a week as at present. It has been a surprise to us that the demand for the " Braille Marl" has steadily increased, as we rather feared that the dissemination of news by wireless would gradually reduce the demand for the Braille newspaper in which only a summary of news is possible. There is evidently, however, a big and growing demand for newspapers in Braille, and a large number of people would like to see an independent daily newspaper published in Braille. Many difficulties, however, would have to be overcome to render this possible. For instance, a Braille daffy paper would necessitate constant night work and the employment of a night staff; despatch would have to be made by vans to all parts of the country or by special railway and postal arrangements; and to warrant publication, the circulation would need to be larger than that of any Braille periodical published to-day.

Notwithstanding, or perhaps because of these difficulties, we venture to suggest that the project forms a magnificent opportunity for a philanthropist who is seeking a unique method of benefiting thousands of blind people for years to come.

Appreciations of Periodicals

The following extracts from the letters of appreciation which we have received periodicals from readers of our periodicals illustrate the warmth of the interest of the blind in the efforts which we make to provide them with good literary fare:

"The very best."

It is my good fortune to have at hand a number of periodicals which arrive at my door month by month, but it is simple justice to say that those which are issued from the presses of the National Institute are of the very best not only as to material but as to make-up and expert consideration of the needs of those they seek to serve. There are those equally desirous to serve but evidently less expert both in the choice of material and in the manner of its presentation. Permit me to voice my hearty approval and grateful thanks."

"It gives me my sight."

"Every time I read “Progress” it gives me my sight."

" Deepest thanks."

"I wish to express my deepest thanks for “Channels of Blessing.” I also very much enjoy reading “Punch.””

"Helpful and interesting."

"I enjoy “The Venture” ever so much. Its contents are helpful and interesting."

"Sources of pleasure and delight."

"You are able through the 'Literary Journal' to bring us into contact with many and various kinds of literature, and these are helpful sources of pleasure and delight."

“A tribute to the intelligence and intellect of the blind.”

"I have always admired the high standard of workmanship and contents displayed in your magazines. You are turning out a splendid piece of work and your magazines and books are a tribute to the intelligence and intellect of the blind."

"I am happy though blind to see pictures."

"I should like to tell you how extreme is my enjoyment of “Punch.” Each month as the date of publication approaches I count the days before its probable delivery. The picture descriptions are worthy of the highest praise. With all my heart I thank the good friend who takes such pains in drawing these pictures pleasure to the sightless. I am happy though blind to see pictures. As a provoking and wit-sharpening publication, “Punch” is the best."

" I get a lot of good."

" Old “Progress” is the finest publication yet printed in Braille and I get a lot of good out of the ' Massage Journal."

"Reader of School Magazine - over 70 years !”

"I found a very enthusiastic reader of the “School Magazine” in this town. He is now over 70 years I So enthusiastic was he that I have made a note to secure copies for the School library."

" He has done a great thing for us."

" I have not enquired who originated the suggestion that "Punch" should be put into Braille, but I feel that that person has earned the gratitude of a large section of the blind of England. He has done a great thing for us. Also I cannot help admiring the descriptive skill of the artist who writes the pictures and cartoons. Though well aware of the difficulty of the task, I think it is admirably, sometimes daringly, done."

Title	Date of Publication	Description of Contents
1. Braille (a) Edited and published by the Institute
Braille Mail	Friday	The week’s news arranged in sections – home, foreign, sports, etc – and selected “leaders.”
Braille Radio Times	Friday	Resume of all programmes broadcast from the BBC stations with technical and general supplements.
Progress	Monthly, 1st	Popular magazine, general articles, fiction matters of the moment, prize competitions, correspondence, chess, home supplement.
Literary Journal	Monthly, 10th	Literary, scientific, artistic and political review
Braille Musical Magazine	Monthly, 20th	Deals with all matters of interest to blind musicians and tuners
School Magazine	Monthly, 15th	Reading matter for schools. Instructive and amusing. Competitions. Supplement “Comrades” in Grade 1 Braille. No issue in August each year.
Massage Journal	Monthly, 10th	Devoted to professional interests of chartered masseurs and masseuses
Punch	Monthly, 5th	Selections from each weekly issue of “Punch” descriptions of cartoons and pictures
Channels of Blessing	Bi-monthly from Feb	Devotional magazine. Supplement for Sunday School Teachers.
Published by the Institute in conjunction with other Bodies
The Braille Rainbow	Quarterly from June	Official Organ of the National Deaf-Blind Helpers’ League
The Venture	Monthly 15th	Notes and articles of interest to Boy Scouts and Girl Guides
c) Published by the Institute for other Bodies
Weekly Summary	Wednesday	Short summary of the world’s news
Braille Packet	Monthly, 20th	General articles, chiefly political
The Light Bringer	Quarterly from March	Theosophical magazine
The Seeker	Quarterly from January	Christian Mysticism and Comparative Religion
The Tribune	Monthly, 25th	General and official organ of the National Union of the Professional and Industrial Blind
Royal Normal College Old Students’ Guild Bulletin	Three times a year
2. Moon (a) Edited and published by the Institute
Moon newspaper	Wednesday	A resume of the world’s news under countries with American supplement. News of the Blind World.
Moon magazine	Monthly, 1st	Short articles, light fiction, humour
b) Published by the Institute for other Bodies
The Lutheran Herald	Quarterly	Lutheran devotional magazine
3. Inkprint (Edited and published by the Institute)
The New Beacon	Monthly, 15th	Deals with all subjects relative to the welfare of the blind

The production of Braille

Each book is dictated by a sighted reader to a blind stereotyper, who transcribes the words into Braille characters oh metal sheets.

The basis of Braille

The Braille characters are embossed on both sides of each page, the dots on one side falling between the dots on the other side.

When each plate has been proof- read by the blind, as many copies as are desired are, printed from the metal sheets on special presses. The press is such that the paper is inserted between the metal plates.

The Rotary press is used for printing magazines and newspapers with large circulations. The paper passes between two cylinders around which the metal plates are folded.

Books and periodicals

Braille Music is produced in the same way. Periodicals are stitched, by a machine, but books are bound in, paper or cloth covers. The blind also assist in binding. When all the pages of a book or periodical have been printed, the pages are Collected together and collated. The blind assist in this work.

The average novel fills four large volumes of Braille, measuring 14," by 11" by 21/2". In the above photograph, the Braille characters in the two large pages represent, the print enclosed in black lines.

Braille books published by the Institute circulate all over the world. They are sold throughout, the Empire at one-third the cost of production, while the blind in foreign countries are charged cost price' only; Many Braille books and periodicals are presented free to the blind.

Literary Competition for the Blind

To many of our magazines, especially “Progress”, the blind contribute themselves, Competition and at the beginning of this year an announcement was made of a Literary Competition for the Blind. We had decided to run with a view to the encouragement of literary ability amongst the blind. The competitors were divided into two Classes - Class A, adults over 18; Class B, juveniles under 18, and we offered prizes amounting to £45 to the senders in each Class of (1) the best lyric, (2) the best essay, (3) the best review of a book from three selected titles. Mr. Frank Whitaker, Acting Editor of "John O'London's Weekly," kindly consented to act as judge. The competition closed on June 30th. Many entries have been received to date, but we shall reserve our comments on the results until next year's Report.

Publication of Books in Moon Type

The Moon Society, which is a branch of the National Institute, is the only producer of books in Moon type in the world. Moon type is a simple embossed variation of Roman type. It occupies more space than Braille, but it is easily learned by those who lose their sight in old age and who find it difficult to acquire a knowledge of the more intricate Braille system.

The Year's Moon Production

During tile year under review tile production of the Moon Society was as follows :

Bound Volumes (general literature) 6,762

Pamphlets, alphabets, etc 25,156

Magazines 5,030

Newspapers and Supplements 34,759

Pages of type set 9,409

The output of previous years has been maintained.

Need for Increased Orders

We have continued the policy of printing limited editions of new publications, particularly of fiction, which was introduced six years ago in order to effect a saving of 25 per cent in the production cost. It is receiving the steady support of all the libraries for the blind at home, in tile Colonies, and in America. Many of tile libraries are very keen to receive their copies immediately they are published, as readers are always eagerly awaiting new books. The small size of the editions of new publications - averaging less than fifty copies - must be inadequate to supply the demands of the many thousands of English-speaking Moon readers throughout the world, and we earnestly appeal to tile libraries to increase their orders, as by so doing tile high production cost would be reduced, and further concessions in, prices could be allowed.

Recent Publications

The 10th and 11th Series of Moon Limited Editions included the following books:

The House that Whispered (Emery). 5 vols.
The Courtship of Mortice Buckler (Mason). 6 vols.
Vice Versa (Anstey). 7 vols.
The Road to Avalon (Dawson). 6 vols.
Penny Plain (Douglas). 6 vols.
Freckles (Porter). 6 vols.
The Broken Halo (Barclay). 7 vols.
The Hundred Days (Pemberton). 5 vols.
Jane Eyre (Bronte). 12 vols.
Madame Luxuron (Kennedy). 3 vols.
The House of Dreams Come True (Pedler); 7 vols.
Fairy Gold (Mackenzie). 12 vols.
Under the White Cockade (Sutcliffe). 4 vols.
Another Part of the Wood (Mackail). 6 vols.

A number of short stories in small volumes have also been issued.

New Moon instructional books

Special attention has been given during the year to the improvement of Moon Instructional Books. "Moon Made Easy" will be invaluable to those interested in teaching the Moon System. It has been prepared by a very experienced teacher, Miss Hilda Bradfield, the winner of numerous prizes, and is approved by the College of Teachers of the Blind. It will meet a long-felt want among home teachers for a set of lessons. The publication consists of an inkprint leaflet of Suggestions a folded Alphabet Card with contractions, numerals, etc, a small Card, a set of ten separate sheets of Graduated Exercises, and a Wide Line Reader. The set is contained in a stout envelope measuring 12 ins by 9 ins, at the specially reduced price of one shilling per copy to any purchaser the world.

A lesson book in Giant Moon Type, consisting of some of the exercises " Moon Made Easy," and a set of Moon letter blocks, Giant size, characters and numerals, have also been published.

Catalogue of Moon Books

The Moon Catalogue contains a large variety of works of biography, devotion, essays, fiction, history, etc. There is an embossed edition of the Moon Catalogue and supplementary lists of additions are distributed with the Moon periodicals, so that readers are able to acquaint themselves at first hand with all the latest titles.

Periodicals in Moon type

The circulations of tile " Moon Magazine" and the "Moon Newspaper" are increasing. News of the Blind World" Supplements are occasionally issued with the newspaper, and we have begun a series of quarterly supplements to the " Moon Magazine' of "Classics Re-told as Short Stories. This series is very popular with readers, who doubtless read many of these books in days gone by. The monthly issue of chapters from Dr. Miller's well-known book entitled " Things to Live For " has been begun. The same author's " Making the Most of Life" has been completed and can be supplied bound in volumes.

The " Lutheran Herald for the Blind" (quarterly) is published for the Board of Missions for the Deaf and Blind of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States. The Editor, the Rev. O. C. Schroeder, who takes a keen interest in the dissemination of Moon literature generally, kindly supplies many Moon readers in the British Isles with free copies of the paper, and is always most happy to receive fresh applications.

Discounts Allowed on Embossed Books

All Braille and Moon books published by the Institute are sold to the blind of the British Empire at one-third the actual cost of production. In other words, a volume costing 6s. to produce is sold at 2s. The discounts allowed to individuals are also allowed to Libraries for the Blind throughout the British Empire. The blind in foreign countries are charged cost price only. Many books are distributed free of charge, and all books are sent post free to residents in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

Some idea of the amount of literature which can be given to a blind reader by a friend for the modest sum of £1 can be gathered from the following typical selection:

	Cost Price	Purchase
Utopia (Sir Thomas More)	18	6
The Blind in Industry (Purse)	9	3
Pelleas and Melisande (Maeterlinck)	5/6	1/10
The Parson’s Pigs (Bingley)	1/3	5d
The Progress of Science (Huxley)	6	2
Wireless Telegraph (Fortescue)	9/9	3/3
The Greatest Thing in the world (Drummond)	2/9	11d
The Life of Dr T R Armitage (Hirst)	2	8d
Poems of the Great War	1/3	5d
First steps in Chess	1/3	5d
Handbook on Whist	2	8d
Esperanto Grammer	1/3	5d
	£3 for	£1

Students Library and manuscript braille books (See Plate II.)

The higher education of the blind is one of the most important features of the Institute s work, and for many years we have devoted sums of money to the payment of special education and training fees. We soon realised, however, that blind students did not simply need money; of equal importance was their need for books in Braille, for without them their studies were seriously handicapped. Indeed, at the present time it is difficult to imagine that there ever was a time when students, studying from books, had to rely solely on the Services of a reader. There are now about 7,000 volumes in our Students' Library, and in some cases a blind student may borrow from the Library as many as 200 volumes at a time and retain them for many months. To a large extent, therefore, a blind student may now dispense with the services of a paid reader. He has only to ask for a Braille copy of the special work he requires; if it is in the Library, it is lent to him ; if it is not, a Braille transcription is at once put in hand, and despatched to him as soon as it is ready. In this way our Students' Library has been formed.

The Year’s Production of MS Volumes

During the year the production of Braille manuscript volumes by voluntary Braille writers and the circulation of the books to students have both steadily increased. 860 volumes have been produced, as increase of 88 on the previous year. The following list of some of the new volumes gives a good idea of the difficult nature of much of the work undertaken:

Economics of Everyday Life (Penson).
Historical English Grammar (Wright).
History of the English Courts (Carter).
Principles of Mercantile Law (Charlesworth).
Conflict of Laws (Dicey).
Stocks and Shares (Withers).
Charters (Stubbs).
Pro Milone (Cicero).
Letters (Pliny).
Siecle de Louis XIV (Voltaire).
Souvenirs d’ Enfance (Renan).
The Mysterious Universe (Jeans).
Principles of Physiology (1McKendrick).
Confessions of St Augustine.
The Books of the Apocrypha (Oesterley).
Anthropology (Kroeber).
Biology by Discovery (Green and Potter).
Henry VIII (Hackett).
Oxford Book of German Verse.
The Apple-Car (Bernard Shaw).
Blenheim (England Under Queen Anne) (Trevelyan).
Ecclesiastical History (The Venerable Bede).
Shakespeare's England (Raleigh).
Byron (Maurois).
History of Labour (Stone).
History of the Modem Church (Wand).

One of the most difficult sections of the Library is the Law section, as legal works are very large and take many months to transcribe. Sometimes, before the Braille copy is ready, an enactment of Parliament will make the edition being copied out-of-date and a revised edition has to be put in hand; this especially applies to books on the laws concerning real property. Yet this section is perhaps the most widely used in the Library, for not only do blind students require the books for examinations, but qualified blind lawyers borrow them continually in order to keep up-to-date in their profession.

Circulation

During the year 3,059 volumes from the Library were lent to students, compared with 2,868 volumes lent during the previous year. On very rare occasions we have sent books to students in the Colonies and the United States of America, but only when we have known that tile particular books requested were not wanted by our own students. At the moment we do not propose to internationalise the Library, because only one copy of each work is available. We hope, however, that later on, wel1 the new Pyke Duplicator (see page 30) is producing regularly six copies of standard works in Braille, it may be possible to extend the facilities of the Library, in some small degree, to blind students overseas.

We now have on our register the names of nearly 200 volunteers who not only give their services as Braille writers but generally provide the special paper on which the Braille transcriptions are made, and in some cases pay for the binding of the books. Their work consequently involves much expense as well as labour.

Voluntary Writers

Were it not for the help of this devoted band of volunteers, the Library, in its present flourishing state, could not exist. The record number of volumes produced by one writer this year is 36; Mrs. Du Val was responsible for this really wonderful achievement. Mrs. de Vere Brooke came next with 30 volumes, and Mrs. Jackson third, with 26 volumes to her credit. Many other volunteers have transcribed between 10 and 20 volumes.

Mr. H. Malim and Mr AA Kennedy carry on Unceasingly their specialised work of making Braille diagrams, embossed maps; etc., and are kept very busy with the many technical books which have to be transcribed. Miss Ainsworth and Colonel E. T. Wright have given valuable assistance in the revision of the Braille instructional books--an important work completed by the Department during the year.

Training of Braille Writers

During the year, 77 candidates sat for the Institute's proficiency test in Braille, but only 36 were successful. As the books we put into the Library are generally difficult to transcribe into Braille, it is most necessary to maintain a high standard of accuracy.

The training of Braille writers is generously undertaken by Colonel WP Saunders, who has trained practically alt the volunteers attached to the Library. Personal lessons are very kindly given by Colonel W Elliott, CB, who has also trained many people threatened with loss of sight to read with their fingers.

Magazine and newspaper articles required in Braille for the reading-rooms of Schools and Institutions for the Blind provide beginners with the practice required before embarking on a long book.

Voluntary Readers

Volunteers are also engaged in the proof-reading of Braille manuscripts. For many years we have employed six blind proof-readers to check, word for word with the printed copy, the Braille transcriptions sent in by the voluntary writers. Each blind proof-reader requires a sighted reader and originally we employed, as in the Stereotyping Department, a paid staff for this purpose. Owing, however, to the serious reduction in our funds a few years ago, we were obliged to dispense with paid readers and since then volunteers have undertaken the work.

The value of library

We give below some extracts from hundreds of appreciative letters received during the year "A tremendous help."

" I am returning eight volumes of German you sent me. I cannot tell you how glad we have been to have them nor how much we have enjoyed them. The Vocabularies are a tremendous help."

" An immense boon."

" Thank you very much for the four volumes comprising 'The Law of Procedure,” and “All you need for the Bar Final,” which gives a good bird's-eye view of the field of study. I return Gibson's Conveyancing in sixteen Braille vols. ; I am most grateful for the use of these books which have indeed been a great help. Would you be so kind as to lend me the “Life of Reason,” by Santayana, and “Creative Evolution,” by Bergson? Enclosed is a cheque as a small contribution to the Students' Library which is such an immense boon,"

" Your wonderful help."

" I cannot express the great appreciation i feel for your wonderful help in permitting me to use the heel, s. Will it be possible for you to send me Homer's Odyssey, Books 1, 2 and 3?

"Able to secure my BA through you."

"I am returning “Agricola” and “Germelshatlsen.” I am unable to express in words my gratitude to you for your kindness. Next Spring, when I graduate from this University, I shall remember that I have only been able to secure my Bachelor's Degree of Arts through your kind consideration."

"Timely assistance."

" You will be interested to learn that in the recent examination based on Menzies “History of Religion,” which you so kindly loaned me, the standing given was 82 per cent. I do not know that I could have taken this subject without your co-operation, for I had no reader who was competent to read the work. Please accept my sincere thanks for the timely assistance which you gave me."

"Opened up a wonderful field."

"I can never express my gratitude sufficiently to the Library, for it has opened up such a wonderful field of reading and thought to me."

Braille copies of examination papers

The preparation of Braille copies of examination papers for the various Universities and Colleges continues to be an important feature of the Department's work. For Examination one examination alone, 69 sheets of Braille were transcribed, of which 54 sheets were in foreign languages. The following letter received from the Secretary of one College "proves the value of the work:

" I beg to thank you very sincerely for your promptness in sending me the examination papers for --. He found them a very great help ill that he was thereby put on almost the same basis as the other men. Your excellent Institution is doing great service in overcoming the initial handicap of the blind."

Correspondence

Braille copies of private correspondence have also been made by the Department during the year, and at Christmas time many greetings were embossed in Braille on Christmas cards.

Free Postage on Braille Paper

In view of the fact that tile cost of postage on paper used by blind persons for writing in Braille is considerable, we asked the Postmaster General to receive a deputation requesting that concessions should be made as to the postal rates on the special class of paper used exclusively by the blind. The Postmaster General was sympathetic towards the request, but stated that it could not be acceded to without legislation. He promised, however, to consider the whole question carefully, and we are extremely grateful to Commander Southby, M.P., for continuously pressing the matter in Parliament. Meanwhile, as far as the Institute is concerned, we are malting no charge for the carriage or postage of Braille paper to our own customers.

Embossed Music and Blind Musicians (See Plate VI)

Exactly 60 years ago, the British and Foreign Blind Association--now the National Institute--began its labours by the publication of a pamphlet on Braille Music Notation. It is fitting that the Diamond Jubilee of Braille music in this country should be celebrated by some outstanding event, and no event could be of greater importance to blind musicians in every country than the arrangement by which all the principal Braille presses of tile world agreed that from April 1st, 1931, all their Braille music publications should be embossed in accordance with the decisions of the International Congress on Braille Music held at Paris in April, 1929. Henceforward, each of the signs used in Braille music notation will, as in ordinary staff notation, have only one recognised meaning, and Braille music, in whatever country it is produced, be intelligible to blind musicians in every land. One great advantage of this arrangement will be the large increase in the number of musical works available in Braille for study or for recreation. Another advantage will be the stimulation of the spirit of co-operation amongst blind musicians of all nationalities, and in this direction we hope for far-reaching developments.

Publication of Braille Music

The Institute's output of Braille music during the year under review was as follows:

Bound Volumes 1,158

Pamphlets (equivalent to sheet music) 10,730

Music Plates stereotyped 1,364

The figures are, in the aggregate, slightly lower than those of the previous year. This is mainly due to the transfer of music readers from work on new publications to the preparation of books for inclusion in the Music Students' Library. All sections of our Music Catalogue, e.g., Piano, Organ, Vocal and Dance Music, etc., have, however, been added to. The selection of representative pieces has been made after consultation with the many eminent musicians who constitute our Music Consultative Committee (see page 2), and who take such unfailing interest in this branch of our work.

Catalogues of all musical works published in Braille by the Institute are available in inkprint and Braille. All Braille music publications are sold to the blind resident in the British Empire at one quarter of the catalogue price, which represents the actual cost of production, and to the blind in foreign countries at cost price only.

Permission to reproduce musical works ha Braille has been given without exception by publishers, composers and other owners of copyright who, by so doing, have earned the gratitude of every blind musician and lover of music.

Appreciations from Musicians

Appreciation of this branch of the Institute's work is expressed in many letters, from which the following extracts are typical:

"Grateful for the careful selections."

Mr Thomas Marshall, A.R.A.M., L.R.A.M - "I am sending you a programme of my next Concert (Grotrian Hall). I am ending up with the second movement from the Turina Suite that was brallled just in time for me, and I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you and the NIB, for the careful selections that have been made lately as to the pianoforte works which one wants for Concerts."

"What an achievement”

Mr Claude Aveling, MA, Registrar, Royal College of Music - "Many thanks for the marked copy of your fine Catalogue; what an achievement the latter is!"

" Only means of learning a special piece."

Mr. Samuel Kerry, F.R.C.O., L.R.A.M.: " I found it very difficult to get up Mendelssohn's “Hymn of Praise” which we did at our Church. Had it not been in Braille, I should have been unable to learn it. I should like to see more cantatas brailled, as they are very useful to small choirs."

" A great work."

Mr Fred Turner, Professor of pianoforte Playing, Scottish National Academy of Music, Glasgow - "You are all doing a great work at the NI.B, and I hope that it may go from strength to strength."

A most touching appreciation

A Blind Teacher of the Violin in Cairo, Egypt - " God keeps you for us as the daylight."

Music Students’ Library

This lending Library of musical works in Braille was founded in 1925. It consists of Braille manuscript copies of works which for various reasons cannot be included in a general catalogue of musical works, but which are needed by professional blind musicians and advanced students of music.

Sixty-two works, in 188 large Braille volumes, were added during the year to the Library, which now comprises nearly 300 works. They have been prepared by the skilled blind transcribers employed by the Institute, with the assistance of 13 voluntary readers with sight, who devote their time and musical knowledge to a difficult and exacting task. Their only reward--and it is the only one they seek--is the knowledge that their labours are enabling blind musicians and students all over the country to have direct access to works which are essential to the development of musical knowledge and practice.

Competition for Young Blind Composers.

To encourage young blind composers, a prize competition was organised last year for the best musical compositions received from blind music students under 20 years of age. The successful competitors were Mr John Edward Robinson and Mr. Charles Edwin Yates, both of whom were completing their musical training at the Royal Normal College for the Blind, Upper Norwood. The works submitted by them were highly commended by the adjudicator - the late Mr William Wolstenholme, Mus.Bac., FRCO, the world-famous blind composer.

Blind Organists Bureau

The Bureau for Blind Organists which we established last year is fulfilling a useful purpose. A list of highly qualified men, most of them holding the diplomas of the Royal College of Organists, can now be inspected by clergy and others, who are asked to bear the blind organist in mind when seeking to fill vacancies. The Secretary of the Bureau will, free of charge, make every endeavour to find competent and suitable candidates. Recommendations are made solely on merit, just as though each person nominated were a person with sight. There are over 150 blind organists holding Church appointments in this country, many not merely with success but with distinction.

We also have a list of thoroughly reliable qualified blind pianoforte tuners. Many orders for tuning have been received during the year. Contracts can be arranged if desired.

Musical Competition Festivals and the Blind

A successful effort has been made during the past year to link up more closely the blind musicians of the country with the greater Musical Competition Festivals which are now so important a feature of musical activity everywhere. Hitherto it has been extremely difficult for the blind to ascertain what test-pieces in any particular Festival were available in Braille.

A representation made by us to the British Federation of Musical Competition Festivals resulted in the insertion of a special notice in the current Year Book of the Federation suggesting that:

"most Festival Secretaries would probably find it convenient to send a printer's proof-sheet, giving the titles of Test-pieces, to the Secretary of the National Institute's Music Department, requesting that a tick be placed against each item published in Braille " ; and adding--" We commend this matter to the attention of all Festival Secretaries as something which should not only benefit~ the blind, but also add many new and worthy competitors to the list."

The principal Musical Academies and examining bodies have agreed to adopt the same plan in their syllabuses, so that this old and serious disability is rapidly being overcome. Further, an increasing number of the examining bodies are now asking the Institute to make Braille copies of their theoretical examination paper, in order that blind examinees may share the advantage of those with sight of having the actual script before them.

General interests of Blind Musicians and Music Students

In addition to the activities specified above, there are many other ways by which we try to promote the general interest of blind musicians and music students. We publish through Messrs. Ryalls and Jones, Birkenhead, an edition of the Works of British Blind Composers in staff notation; we endeavour to procure engagements for talented blind vocalists and instrumentalists; we allow blind candidates for the examinations of the Royal College of Organists free practice on the Institute's organ, a replica of that at the Royal College; Mr HV Spanner, Mus Bac, FRCO, LRAM, continues to give half-yearly recitals of pieces drawn exclusively from the current syllabus of the Royal College, thus providing blind candidates with an actual demonstration of the capabilities of a skilled blind organist; and we have prepared a register of blind musicians and organists to whom we are ready, if the need is manifest, to lend pieces of Braille music required for professional purposes. Blind instrumentalists and singers are engaged as often as possible for the Concerts and Recitals organised by the Institute.

Concerts and Recitals

During the year, 52 Recitals, Concerts and Lectures were given. These provided 43 engagements for blind artistes, while pieces by 10 blind composers, independently of those drawn upon for Concerts, found a place on Organ Recital programmes.

The Lectures included addresses at Rotary Club luncheons in different parts of the country. Members of the Clubs were much interested to hear how blind musicians overcome their handicaps; as hitherto, the nature of these difficulties had been very imperfectly understood.

The monthly Concerts in the Armitage Hall, held from October to April, have provided opportunities for five blind pianists to contribute solos. One, in addition, acted as accompanist to a well-known singer.

Provision of Apparatus and Technical Research (See Plate III.)

Our Sub-Committee on Technical Research has been very active during the year, not only in the examination and remodelling of existing apparatus and in the investigation of new ideas and inventions, but also in the formation of a Museum of "Blindiana."

A Museum of “Blindiana”

Our object in establishing the first permanent Museum of " Blindiana" in this country at the Institute's Headquarters was to provide a means by which investigators: “Blindiana” from all parts of this country and from other countries could obtain a thorough knowledge of the evolution of technical and scientific means of overcoming the handicap of blindness. A great number of the exhibits are from a collection made throughout its existence by the Institute itself, but this has been supplemented by many rare examples of embossed books and pieces of apparatus lent or given by Societies for the Blind and individuals in all parts of the world.

The museum was officially opened by the Right Hon. Lord Blanesburgh, Chairman of the Ministry of Health s Advisory Committee on the Welfare of the Blind. It is our intention to keep it up to date for the use of our Technical Research Sub-Committee, which is continually examining new inventions and pursuing new lines of research, and for the use of those members of the general public who are ready to be interested in the technical means devised from time to time to overcome blindness. We hope that, in one direction, the Museum will stimulate the imagination of inventors, and in another, induce the blind themselves by its proximity to acquire " the museum habit," and visit the great national and local collections.

Encouraging the Museum Habit

With the latter object in view, we invited Mr. JA Charlton Deas, MA, Curator the Museum of Sunderland Museum and Art Galleries, to speak on "The making of museums”, more available to the blind," in the Institute's Armitage Hall during November, When the exhibits were first displayed. His lecture was attended by many blind people and by a large number of educationists and representatives of museum authorities, and aroused wide interest. As a result, several museum authorities have offered to conduct parties of blind people through their museums, to explain the exhibits to them, and to allow them to feel the outlines of the exhibits with their hands.

Improved Braille Apparatus

Special consideration has been given during the year to Braille writing machines and the machines used for taking down shorthand notes in Braille. A new model of the Braille Writing Machine is now being constructed and we hope that it will be in every way an improvement on the existing machine. In that machine, the Braille dots are impressed on the paper by a downward movement which necessitates writing from right to left on the reverse side of the paper; whereas, in the new model, the dots are impressed by an upward movement enabling the operator to write Braille exactly as though he were writing ordinary script on the surface of a piece of paper. This arrangement has the additional advantage of permitting the writer to refer to what he has written without having to turn over the paper. A back spacer, as on a typewriter, is also provided, and the machine is constructed in metal throughout. The Braille Shorthand Writing Machine has also undergone considerable changes, and machines to an approved design are now under construction. A lighter and cheaper case for the machine is also being made. This, no doubt, will be much appreciated by blind shorthand-typists who have to carry their machines about with them for taking down shorthand notes at meetings, etc. Improvements have been effected in the design and construction of the guides used when writing Braille with a stylus.

No efforts have been spared to perfect the many pieces of apparatus which are used in the education of the blind and to invent or discover new devices to mitigate the handicap of the blind student.

Arithmetic and algebra are taught to the blind by means of metal flames, punctured with star-shaped holes with eight angles, in which pieces of double-ended metal type are inserted. The different positions of the type indicate the different figures and mathematical signs. As complaints were received that students' hands became abnormally dirty because of the rubbing of the type metal against the fingers, experiments were made with a harder metal. Supplies of this new type will soon be available, and we believe that, in future, mathematics will provide students with little or no excuse for soiled fingers!

For some time past specially designed thermometers, marked in Braille characters, for taking room temperatures, have been available, but recently enquiries have been made for thermometers to take the temperatures of liquids. These are mainly required by blind masseurs who ill the course of their work frequently heat liquids to definite temperatures. Considerable difficulty was experienced in designing the instrument, but a suitable design has now been produced and from test results it appears that it will prove successful.

A new type of geometry mat has been invented, whereby the student call draw and feel the lines on the upper surface of a piece of paper without having to reverse the paper between the processes. We believe that this mat will be in great demand in Schools for the Blind, as it is cheap, and easy to manipulate.

Two new games

Two new games have been added to the many games which we have adapted for the use of the blind. The new games are "Dekko" and "Clocko." "Dekko " is a modified form of draughts. The pieces are cut to the shape of triangles, squares and circles, and the game is played on a chess board with sunken squares. Clocko is a game resembling "Snakes and Ladders," except that the board is in the form of a clock and that moves are made by turning the clock hands to the number, the numbers varying according to the throw of dice. The board consists of two clock faces, so that the game may be played by two persons.

Improvements have been made in the design of dominoes and chess-boards. Sighted people when playing dominoes with blind people found that the all-black design of the embossed dominoes strained the eyes. The new dominoes have a black base with red embossed pips. The new chess board is a solid board with alternate raised and sunken squares, provision being made for pieces not in use; it is considered a great improvement on the old model.

The Blind Man’s Atlas

Several new maps have been added during the year to our series of embossed maps which, when completed, will give the blind a complete Atlas of the World. Two maps are given of each country, one shewing the physical features, the other the towns and political divisions. Both maps are accompanied by a guide in Braille forming a kind of “running commentary" on the progress of a blind man's finger around the coasts, up the rivers, over mountains, and across country. There has been some delay ill the preparation of maps due to the death of Mr AW Boyle (see page 65), but we hope that the work will proceed normally at an early date.

Increasing Demand for Apparatus

The demand for appliances and apparatus continues to increase, especially the demand for Braille writing machines, 390 being supplied during the year.

The orders received are not merely for appliances listed in our Catalogue. For instance, we were asked to supply a second-hand bicycle exerciser and went so far as to secure an option on a machine, but unfortunately it did not exactly suit the taste of our correspondent. Such all order we can try to execute, but to fulfil requests for "Braille knives and forks " or " Braille scissors for cutting nails " is beyond our powers.

We introduced during the year a concession on postage which has been much appreciated. We now pay for the postage on all appliances supplied to customers ill Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Several Shipping Companies continue to convey goods to Institutions for the Blind within the Empire either freight free or at one half the usual rates.

Exhibits of apparatus and embossed books have been sent to Exhibitions, Conferences and Sales of Work in various parts of the country.

The New "Pyke" Duplicator

Last year we reported that the new model of the Braille Duplicator was nearing completion and gave a full description of its mechanism. This year we are pleased to be able to announce that the constructi6n of the Duplicator has been finished, that the machine has successfully passed all tests, and that it is now being set up for use. Some idea of the nature and value of this achievement can be obtained when it is realised that every country throughout the world has been searching for many years for some means of producing a limited edition of a Braille book from paper master sheets, thereby eliminating the need for metal plates. We believe that all interested in Braille production will join us in offering the heartiest congratulations to the members of our Technical Research Sub-Committee and to Mr EJ Pyke, M.A., the Institute's Technical Officer and inventor of the machine, on the successful termination of a long and difficult task. Tile machine has taken two years to build in tile Institute's workshop and does very great credit to tile skill and patience of the engineer in charge. We are unable at the moment to state its potential output, but we have every reason to hope that it will come up to expectations. It should be clearly understood that the machine will not take the place of a stereo-typing machine nor be used in the publication of new books; it will be solely used for the reproduction of certain works in our Students' Library for which the demand is so large that it cannot be met by one manuscript copy alone." It will reinforce our Manuscript Department not our Publication Department.

Employment and Employment Research (See Plate IV)

In carrying on our work for the blind of this country we have always employed as many blind people as possible. The number of our blind employees is now 114, and last year the sum of £13,073 was paid to them in salaries and wages, etc. They are engaged in many different capacities, from the direction of Departments and Sections to stereotyping, canvassing, telephony, and secretarial work. Apart from employing the blind ourselves, two important features of our work are research into all types of employment for the blind, with a view to developing existing and creating new employments, and the placement of blind men and women in occupations which we have found to be suitable for them. In carrying out these duties, we have the invaluable assistance of the many eminent business and industrial experts who serve on our Placement and General Research Sub-Committee (see page 2) and on our Appointments Board (see page 3).

During the year- research work connected with the employment of the blind has been undertaken into (a) trades at present carried on in Workshops for the Blind, (b) the determination of the most suitable proportion between the number of blind and of sighted workers in Workshops for the Blind, and (c) the education of the blind.

Investigation of Workshop Conditions

Last year we reported that the National Institute of Industrial Psychology had been engaged to examine into the conditions prevailing in Workshops for the Blind. Throughout the year under review the principal workshops in England and Scotland have been visited by investigators, collecting and analysing data relative to (1) suitability of the blind for particular trades; (g) the general lay-out of workshops, including the position of tools and equipment, the allocation of space to each worker, ventilation and lighting; (3) processes employed, covering sub-division of labour, the lay-out of raw material, and mechanical devices to assist the blind in their special work; (4) supervision; (5) finishing; (6) welfare; (7) canteens.

These headings suffice to shew that the task of the investigators, which is now almost completed, has been laborious and thorough. Their findings will be given in a bulletin, now being prepared, which will deal with the investigation as a whole.

Ratio of Blind to Sighted in Workshops.

In every Workshop for the Blind there is a certain ratio between the numbers of blind workers and sighted workers employed, which, when established, will enable the workshop to employ the maximum number of blind persons and to produce a maximum output of maximum quality. To ascertain the principles which govern the establishment of the correct ratio, a questionnaire was sent, at our request, by the Association of Workshops for the Blind to its members. The resultant data are now being considered and a report will shortly be available.

Investigation of Educational Methods

During the year we came to the conclusion that the present time, when every aspect of education is under close and continuous investigation, is ripe for a complete survey of the whole field of the education of the blind. As the solution of all the main problems affecting the employment of the blind have their roots in the educational methods adopted during the early stages of blind life, we considered that the most useful research work to follow the investigation of workshop conditions would be the investigation on similar lines of the conditions attending the education of the blind.

Accordingly, in conjunction with the College of Teachers of the Blind, we have formed a joint Committee, composed of members of the College and members of our Education and Research Committee, to undertake a research survey of blind education. The Board of Education and the Ministry of Health will be represented on this Committee. The investigation will cover all educational work, but particularly affecting employment questions will be the investigation of manual training, vocational training, and instruction ill commercial methods, while matters of more indirect though equal importance, such as the association of the blind with the sighted during the period of education, will also receive attention. We hope that by this time next year a mass of information will have been collected from which valuable suggestions as to the adaptation of educational methods to employment requirements may be made and put into practice.

Placement of the Blind in General Industries.

Industrial conditions have certainly not been advantageous to our endeavours to place blind workers in factories employing sighted labour. Most of the placements effected during the previous year have, however, been retained and several new posts have been obtained. This is fairly satisfactory progress, in view of the fact that most firms, during the year under review, were concentrating on decreasing their staff and were unable even to consider the engagement of fresh hands. Improvement in trade conditions will at once provide us with further opportunities for assisting the blind to earn an economic wage by placing them ill thriving industries.

Placement of Blind Shorthand-Typists.

A considerable advance has been made in the placement of blind shorthand- typists. A definite number of girls are sent from the Royal Normal College for the Blind, Upper Nolavood, which undertakes the training of shorthand-typists, to the Institute, where we provide them with further instruction in office routine. When we are satisfied that a girl is fully competent we try to find her regular employment in Government offices and firms with sighted employees. During the year, shorthand-typists were placed with HM Office of Works, Messrs Freemans, the General Electric Co, and Messrs Wells and Co.

An Experiment with Kiosks

The great success in the United States Of America and in Canada of the placement of blind people as salesmen of newspapers, confectionery, tobacco and stationery, in kiosks or concession stands established in streets, hospitals and large office buildings, induced us to consider the possibilities of similar experiments ill this country. Accordingly, we gladly availed ourselves of the generosity of the Aldwych House Estates Co., Ltd., when they presented us with a kiosk in the entrance hall of their building, and we placed a blind man in charge. Up to date, the experiment has been entirely successful. The stallholder has proved to be quite suitable for his job. He has laid the foundations of a sound business, and with the assistance of the customers who so kindly support him, he is sowing the seeds of what may prove to be a congenial and remunerative occupation for many blind people.

It should be clearly understood that the management of a kiosk does not come under that class of occupation which, known as "a little business," offers so simple a solution to placement problems, but which so often ends in bitter disappointment and bankruptcy. "It is not an isolated individual business prospector but an agency for the blind, such as the Institute, who selects the sites, carefully chooses the salesman, retains the ownership, and controls the administration. The two first points require the most careful consideration, particularly the choice of the right type of man, as salesmanship demands enterprise, intelligence, adaptability, and some education. As we are anxious to extend the scheme, we have decided to adopt a standard design for the kiosks which may come under our management. Mr. Oliver P. Bernard, L.R.I.B.A., the well-known architect decorator, has very kindly given his services in this connection, and has produced a design which is striking from the point of view of the public, and practical from the point of view of the blind salesman. We hope that the scheme will develop widely during the coming year and that the public will support, whenever they see them, the " NIB" kiosks.

An Appeal for Kiosk Sites.

We wish to emphasise the fact that the cost of running a kiosk successfully is considerable. In the first place, the man placed in charge must be able to hold his own with competitors and must adopt all the latest methods and devices for stimulating trade; secondly, construction, decoration, upkeep, and the rental of a site are all heavy items of expenditure. We should be deeply grateful, therefore, for the presentation of suitable sites, and we very much need the active interest of those concerned in the management or letting of hotels, large blocks of offices, factories, etc.

Employment of Blind Teachers

Last summer the Education Committee of the London County Council recommended that no more blind teachers should be employed by its Schools for the Blind, and the recommendation was adopted by the Council. This surprising decision was very strongly criticised by those most intimately acquainted with the education of the blind, and we expressed our opinion that this decision, which was taken without consultation with any official bodies concerned in the education of the blind, was disastrous, and advised action with a view to the reversal of the decision. A deputation representing the Institute, the London Teachers' Association (the London Branch of the National Union of Teachers), the College of Teachers of the Blind, and the National Union of the Professional and Industrial Blind, waited on the Teaching Staff Sub-Committee of the LCC, and put forward a very powerful case.

It advocated the judicious employment of fully qualified blind teachers side by side with sighted teachers--in fact, the continuance of the present system which has produced excellent results--and emphasised the following points: that blind teachers have an excellent record behind them of securing academic distinctions for their pupils; that blind teachers have-a more intimate knowledge than sighted teachers can possibly have of the special difficulties of blind pupils; and that constant contact with successful blind teachers gives blind pupils invaluable and otherwise unobtainable encouragement.

The decision of the London County Council has not yet been communicated.

Personal Services to the Blind (See Plate V)

The National Institute renders, in co-operation with the responsible Local Authorities and Agencies, and in accordance with the regulations issued by the Ministry of Health and designed to eliminate overlapping, certain personal services to the blind which are grouped together in one Department.

Hundreds of letters are received each year by this Department, testifying to the value of its work--work which is the more appreciated because the assistance which it affords comes in times of urgent need.

Grants for training and education

The grants made by Local Authorities to cover professional training and education cannot, in all cases, supply the special requirements of individuals whose circumstances and abilities warrant further training and education. Such cases are therefore helped by voluntary Institutions, and during the year we expended the sum of £934 on extra fees for training and higher education.

Grants and gifts for relief

Similarly, we co-operate gladly with local organisations in assisting to meet the requirements of certain relief cases which do not come within the category of unemployables. During the year we expended the sum of £3,665 on this form of personal service, while the sum of £118 was provided from the Bailey Bequest for the purpose of assisting those persons who are suffering from some physical disability in addition to blindness.

Help of Gardener’s Trust

In connection with these individual cases, which, if assisted at all, must be substantially assisted, we have to express our gratitude to Gardner's Trust for the Blind for its customary whole-hearted and generous co-operation. With the Trust's assistance, we have been able to start, or re-start in life, a number of blind people who, otherwise, would have had to depend on a weekly grant for subsistence.

Christmas Parcels

Another form of personal service to the needy blind undertaken by the Institute is the distribution of parcels of groceries, etc, at Christmas. Particularly notable in this connection is the distribution of Christmas parcels to the blind in the South- Western Counties. This is made in conjunction with the Local Agencies for the Blind, and last Christmas the eleventh consecutive annual distribution took place, when 660 well-filled hampers were sent to the poorest blind people resident in these counties.

Fund for Blind Ex-Service Men

The blind ex-Service man is cared for and trained by St. Dunstan's. There are certain cases, however, of ex-Service men who have lost their sight since the War. As their blindness was not attributable to, or aggravated by, war service, these men do not receive pensions and are not eligible for training at St. Dunstan's.

To relieve this class of blind ex-Service men we founded some years ago a special Fund. Under the personal direction of our Chairman, Captain Sir Beachcroft Towse, VC, the Fund has been most successful and last year much valuable work was accomplished. A sum of £2,060 was expended, mostly in providing training and maintenance charges and partly in granting regular weekly sums to men who have reached all age when they cannot be expected to embark on new means of earning their living.

Whenever possible our grants are substantial enough to set a man on his feet. For instance, a sum given to improve the letting value of a boarding house kept by a blind man's wife should make the family independent for life. It was an ex-Service man whom we placed in charge of the kiosk described on page 32, and we hope that other ex-Service men may be afforded similar congenial and remunerative employment. Another ex-Service man has been trained as a telephonist and is now employed by the Ministry of Pensions.

New cases have been constantly brought to our notice, especially through the medium of a letter signed by our Chairman and kindly circulated to branches of the British Legion by the Chairman of the South-Eastern, Metropolitan and Home Counties areas of the Legion.

It is extremely probable that in the future there will be several cases of blindness incident to old age amongst men who served in the Great War. As a precautionary measure we have therefore invested a sum to provide relief to such cases immediately it is needed.

The Fund continues to receive the financial support of the Admiralty, the Army Council and the Air Council, and of serving units of His Majesty's Forces, to whom an appeal signed by several distinguished officers is annually addressed.

Holidays for Blind Children

During the year we were able, thanks to the co-operation of the Children's Country Holiday Fund, to send over 100 blind children from the London County Children.

Council Special Schools for the Blind for a holiday. The children had a most enjoyable time, the arrangements being carried out with perfect ease and facility. The success of the Holiday Camp on the Norfolk coast was largely due to Mrs Bergel, a member of the Fund's Committee who generously gave her services.

Bus Passes for the Blind

The Advisory Committee on the Welfare of the Blind, Ministry of Health, was asked by us to take up the matter of providing free passes for blind people on buses, but we regret to report that so far its efforts have not been successful.

Dog Guides for the Blind.

For some time there has been a movement in this country to supply dogs as guides to the blind, and early this year we received a deputation from those interested in the scheme, consisting of Lady Kitty Ritson, Mrs R Bond, Miss ME Crooke, Captain AJ Sington, and Mr. Humphrey, manager for Mrs. Eustis, who controls the Swiss organisation, "L'Oeil qui Volt," which has so successfully trained dogs to act as guides to the blind on the Continent and in America. As~ a result of this conference, we have accepted affiliation of a special Fund for conducting an experiment in this country, and we shall generally give assistance to an experimental school which is to be opened at Wallasey, in charge of technical instructors from" L'Oeil qui Volt."

Dogs suitable for guides are not those of the police type, but those which have the protective instinct strongly developed. They must, as it were, be capable of giving orders rather than of receiving orders. When a dog is a blind man's guide it is the dog and not the man who is in command of the situation. Alsatians being the sheep dogs of the Alsatiall peasantry, four Alsatians and two Scotch collies will accordingly be obtained for the experiment, and each will be educated with its future owner, as man and dog have to go to school together.

Augmentation of Blind Employees’ Wages

Under the heading of " Personal Services " it is convenient to deal with the of Blind endeavours we make to provide for the welfare of our own blind staff. We have frequently expressed our opinion that the wages paid to blind people should be sufficient, not only to establish a decent standard of living, but to compensate in some degree for the handicap of blindness. All our blind employees are paid an economic wage, that is, a wage based purely on the output of work. But owing to the handicap of blindness this wage, in most cases, is insufficient, either under piece-work conditions of employment or hourly rates of payment, to enable blind workers to live in comfort. Accordingly, we make extra allowances, and during the year we expended the sum of £7,580 in augmenting the wages of our blind employees.

Pension Fund.

A further benefit to our blind employees, as well as to those with sight, has arisen during the year. We have established a Pension Fund on the contributory basis, to which the Institute liberally subscribes, special provision being made for older members of the staff for past services. This enables all our employees to look forward to an independent old age, free from financial worry. When the Fund was established, it was left to the discretion of all employees at that time as to whether they contributed to it or not, but in future contribution to the Fired will be a condition of employment.

Works and Office Council.

The regulations governing the Pensions Fund were framed in consultation with our Works and Office Council. This Council, on which all grades of the Institute's staff are represented, was formed two years ago to give all our employees, blind and sighted alike, closer acquaintance with the nature and scope of the Institute's work, and to provide them with an opportunity of expressing their views and exchanging ideas. Apart from the Pensions Scheme, the Council have had under discussion matters such as the Staff Restaurant, Holidays, etc.

Social Welfare of Blind employees

The social welfare of our blind employees has been fostered in many other ways, notably by the establishment of a five-days' working week for blind employees only. This was tried as an experiment during the previous year but the year under review has witnessed its success. Although the workers have two complete days of leisure, output has not been adversely affected. Rather, the tendency, as we expected; has been towards better work and increased output.

Dances, whist drives, outings and similar amusements have frequently been organised with much success during the year. In all these forms of entertainment our blind employees take a keen interest, and an achievement worthy of considerable praise in which they have taken a part has been the successful establishment in London of a Sports Club for the Blind.

Sports Club for the Blind

Last year we reported the initiation of a Sports Club for the Blind, with the object of providing sports and social facilities for the blind of London at the most reasonable rate possible. A small nucleus Committee was formed in July, 1930, and Lieutenant-Colonel FD Henslowe undertook the duties of Honorary Secretary. At the end of March, 1931, a fully representative Committee had been formed and the membership of the Club was as follows Blind 62, Sighted 23, Honorary 33. The annual membership fee is 2s. 6d.

The Club is much indebted to Mr. C. E. Rose who, from the outset, volunteered to act as Rowing and Sculling Coach and has given much time to this work. Practices have been held throughout the year at the Regent's Park Lake, where special facilities have been given by the Boating Superintendent.

The following gifts have been made to the Club: A tub-4 from Worcester College for the Blind ; 12 oars (which by good fortune exactly fit the tub-4) from Eton College Rowing Club; and a Sculling Machine from the Maidenhead Rowing Club which has proved most useful in instructing beginners.

Swimming practices are held during the season at the St. Marylebone Baths, the small first class bath being hired by the Club. Mr C Kedwell has undertaken the duties of swimming coach.

Dancing classes have been held weekly, and were most popular throughout the winter months. A number of dances have been organised by blind members of the Club during the winter in order to raise funds. One evening a week is set aside throughout the year for indoor games such as chess, draughts, cards, etc. Members of this section are hoping to arrange chess matches against other Social Clubs for the Blind. A programme of Rambles is arranged for the summer season.

Sighted volunteers are required, and it is hoped that any friends of the blind living in London who would be Mlling to assist in any of the Club's activities will send in their names to the Honorary Secretary.

The Club colours, which are Oxford blue and cream, were chosen by blind members of the Committee. Enamel Club badges are now available, price 6d each.

Homes for Blind Babies (See Plate IX)

Last year We reported that we had purchased a house at East Grinstead, Sussex, to receive the blind babies who had been temporarily moved to Court Grange, Abbotskerswell, South Devon (see page 50), when the Home at Chorleywood, Harts, was destroyed by fire in 1929. The structural alterations were completed in the Autumn and just before Christmas the babies were removed to the Home at East Grinstead, which was officially opened in the Spring by the Lady Adelaide Colville.

The New Home at East Grinstead

The situation of the new Home is ideal, on the slope of a hill, overlooking the open country in a south-easterly direction. There are wide lawns for the children to play on and where, in the summer months, they can