Talking-books For The Blind

At a small ceremony in the City Council Chambers, the Mayor, Mr H. H. Barker, presented the first of the revolutionary talking-book machines for the blind to the secretary-chairman of the Gisborne advisory committee of the N.Z. Foundation for the Blind, Mr A. K. Russell.

The machines, which are valued at £100 each, and are practically foolproof to use, consist of an electric turntable, amplifier, and speaker. On the turntable is placed a metal cassette containing a tape with the book recorded on it. This will run up to 22 1/2 hours, and when finished is exchanged for another from the foundation's library in Auckland.

Previous talking-book machines have been in the form of records and it is the foundation's aim to equip every able blind person with the new machines.

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Watched by Mr Barker, a blind person, Mr W. S. McKee, places a cassette on the Machine

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The foundation's welfare officer, Mr J. T. Taylor, demonstrating the new machine to Mr A. K. Russell.

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Present at the official presentation were, from left: Messrs. M. R. McIvor (Wairoa County Council), R. E. Shortt (Mayor of Wairoa, A. Williamson (Cook County Council) and W. Hudson (Gisborne town clerk). Not pictured is Mr W. J. Connor (Opotiki C.C).