Bennett David: Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act Repeal Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBennett David: Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act Repeal Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 02 March 2016. Volume:711;Page:9347. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East): It is a great pleasure to speak in regard to this bill. We have had a very generous I think explanation from members of the House around the history and the roles undertaken by the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind—especially the last speaker who made a very poignant point about the need for independence and the ability to live one’s own life even though someone may have a disability.My grandfather was in fact blind—or of limited sight. We knew little about it but we do have stories of him going to Parnell in Auckland travelling from Cambridge and I know that that service in those days was essential to him and I know that that service has carried on over the years. It has grown and it has become a lot more sophisticated I am sure since then and has delivered a lot more in a range of areas for a number of New Zealanders who have had to endure and go through the process of making a life for themselves in our community which is not always open to people who have disabilities or issues with sight.This is a bill that is a very simple bill in the sense that it adjusts the structural nature of the organisation so that it can provide better service to its members and that is something that I think everybody in this House is no doubt in support of and wishing to see progress. I just want to echo the words of my colleague Mr Tim Macindoe around how in Hamilton we are very fortunate to have a very strong service in our city that is well represented. There are so many great people there who give a lot of voluntary time to help out other people whether in communication or just support.I think the key thing though—when you talk to people who are in a situation where they do have limited sight or hearing loss—is very much getting into the job market. Having an occupation having the ability to be part of the community and work is a big part of giving them confidence and support. I think that is one thing that this Parliament could possibly do a lot more of to help people in that area—into work and to enable organisations like the foundation to actually achieve a lot more to give people that independence and confidence in their own abilities and also their contribution to our community and to feel that they are valued and part of the community. That is essentially what everybody wants. If we can make that easier for people to have that opportunity then I think that is something that this Parliament should progress.Although it may be a simple bill and achieve quite a simple purpose it is something that is in a very important area that makes a real difference to people’s lives. I think that we should support and assist in any way we can organisations like this that do a great deal of work in our community and make a real difference to people’s lives in ways that we would never understand unless we have actually had to go through it.