THE LEPER STATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 221, 17 September 1924, Page 8

THE LEPER STATION.

! ■ CHANGES POSSIBIJ-. PATIE-ITS MAY BE REMOVED TO FIJI. The New Zealand Leper Station, which is situated on Quail Island, in Lyttelton harbour, is not consideredaltogether satisfactory owing to the dual control over the island by the Health Department (which has charge of the leper station) and the Agricultural Department (which has charge of the stock quarantine station).. . The Agricultural Department has the best part of the island and those employed by it give no assistance to the leper station. The lepers are looked after by a matron and nurses. There are only nine lepers on the island—four Maoris, three Europeans, and two Chinese. All are men. Some of the -patients are in fairly good health amTassist in carrying the stores for the little colony up from the landing place. ; Certain improvements have been ' made to. the leper station, and it is learned that others would be undertaken, but for the possibility of having these New Zealand lepers treated at the Fiji station on the island of "Mokajai. It is considered that this would be the best solution of the difficulty so far as New Zealand is concerned, and . probably would be in the interests of the lepers. With a view to arranging for the treatment of .New Zealand lepers at the Lp-ji station, - communications have been passing between the New Zealand ; Government and Government, | but a definite decision has not yet been reached. Meantime, while there is a possibility of tbe New Zealand lepers ' being treated at the Fiji station, it is not considered advisable to spend-some thousands of pounds on improvements at the Quail Island station.—("New ■ Zealand Tintes.") i