2tO 



The Review of Reviei^s, 



Ma-(h 20, 1906. 



One of the Cottages at the Homt^ f-tr A;eci and Infirm Deaf- «1i.tes, Parafieid 



Adela ai . 



the- Education Departnifiu> ui un Siau-s [vok inn- 

 trol, it would, of course, mean that they appointed 

 the education staff, and made the insf)ector an 

 expert on what is pertained to the deaf. 



With regard to the employment of the deaf, Mr, 

 Abraham suggests that it would be a wise thing for 

 the Government to give them enip'.oyment. After 

 all there are but few, and they are willing and com- 

 petent workers. At present, two are employed in 

 the Board of Works in Victoria, and an illustration 

 of what is being done for them in some countries 

 is afforded bv the fact that the Canadian Post- 

 master-General is at present employing as many 

 deaf mutes as show them- 

 selves capable of doing 

 work, and the same thing 

 might well be done in Aus- 

 tralia with considerable jus- 

 tice to the deaf mute, and 

 injustice to no one. 



A NEW POLICY WITH R3:;A RD 

 TO THE AFFLICTED. 



The question of assisting 

 those whom nature has de- 

 prived of some of their 

 senses is one which Govern- 

 ments very soon must take 

 up. It is one of the signs 

 of the times that here and 

 there, although as yet only 

 glimmering faintly like a 

 little rushlight in the dark- 

 n e s s, there are indica- 

 tions of a growing .sense of 

 lesponsibilitv on the part of 



the State towards those who need 

 assistance. This is evidenced, for 

 instance, with regard to Old Age 

 t'ensions. It is being gradually 

 r->cognised that a provision against 

 btarvation, and for something like 

 at any rate a living allowance, 

 snouid be granted to those who 

 nave spent their time and labour 

 in the service of their countr\, 

 and that it should be looked upon 

 not as a charity dole, but as a 

 right. Society has responsibilities 

 towards those whom age has 

 rdbbed of their powers. As time 

 goes on, this must be extendeil, 

 and it will at last recognise that 

 where anyone is afflicted by nature^ 

 it is its bounden duty to assist 

 them as far as possible, and to 

 make up for their lack. But the 

 (".eaf n.Jte does not require as- 

 sistance without giving a return. 

 He or she (as the case may be) is generally a person 

 robust in body, strong in mind, keen in perception, 

 but, nevertheless, handicapped. What better could 

 a State do than find means of employment for such, 

 and spare them a great deal of the hardship that 

 nowadays they have to meet. If all men are re- 

 garded before the law as equal, the deaf mute 

 ought to get a long start to be considered to have 

 an equal opportunitv with those in possession of 

 their full powers, and there ought to be no opposi- 

 tion to a proposal that every ileaf mute man or 

 woman should be employed by the State in some 

 position where they could render a full senace for 



West Australian^ Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. 



