Bruce McHattie

Fifty deaf people registered a silent protest outside the Auckland Magistrate’s Court yesterday about what they say is the subtle discrimination of New Zealand against deaf people.

The team of 17 deaf athletes are farewelled at Kelston School for the Deaf, with official team photos, before leaving for the 10th International Games for the Deaf at Washington D.C.

There were differences in the presentation of 10 debutantes to the Mayor, Mr Ashby and Mrs Ashby in the Farmers' Trading Company's banquet hall last night. Because each of the debutantes were deaf, small changes in procedures had been arranged. The ball was organised by the Adult Deaf Society.

Bruce McHattie, having just returned from a world conference for the deaf in Rome, says that New Zealand is so far behind in the rest of the world in services for the deaf.