LEPER TRUST BOARD

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27150, 21 September 1953, Page 2

LEPER TRUST BOARD

NEW OFFICES OPENED The Leper Trust Board has replaced its obsolete office building m Sherborne street by a plain, sunny and convenient budding of brick with tiled roof and adequate office accommodation for its staff. Mr J. K. t McAlpine, M.P., representing the Prime Mimster (Mr Holland) officially opened the -building on Saturday morning at a gathering attended by members of the trust board and several interested friends. Mr McAlpine said he knew of no higher service to humanity than that given by those who cared for sufferers from leprosy, a disease that had persisted through the ages since Biblical days. The Leper Trust Board was giving magnificent service, he said, to suffering humanity and at the same time was spreading friendship and goodwill through the Pacific. This was a matter vital to New Zealand. Mr McAlpine said the Prime Minister and Government wished him to express appreciation of the work of Mr P. J. Twomey to whom the Trust board owed so much. "He has made himself known throughout the Dominion as the Leper Man,’ the fact that he has gladly accepted this name gives indication of his character —he has not thought of self; he is primarily interested in helping the lepers.” Mr McAlpine added that honours received by Mr Twomey from King George VI and from the French Government were well deserved. Thirty years ago the voluntary contributions to the leper fund had amounted to £3O, they now reached £30,000 annually and for that fine response the credit must go chiefly to Mr Twomey. In declaring the building open. Mr McAlpine wished the Trust board and all connected with it continued and increased success. • The Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) endorsed Mr McAlpine’s remarks. He said he was greatly impressed by the number of persons in Christchurch who gave voluntary service to suffering humanity. That was something the city could well be proud of. He paid a tribute to the many workers who, unhonoured and unsung, gave of their best to help the lepers and other sufferers. Mr A. S. Geddes, chairman of the board, thanked the speakers and said his board was grateful to the staff who, for many months, had carried out their duties in very poor conditions.

The guests then inspected the building, and morning tea was served by members of the office staff—Misses N. Kiely, assistant secretary, N. Crawford and M. Mullaney. Occupying pride of place on the walls of the main office was a picture of Mr Ben C. Pratt, the man who first invited public donations to help the lepers and who died 18 years ago.. With him were associated the late Dr. C. H. Upham, the late Dr. A. B. O’Brien and Dr. T. Fletcher Telford, who attended the gathering on Saturday. At that time, there were about 11 lepers accommodated oft Quail Island in Lyttelton harbour. Social Gathering After a conference of members of the trust board, held during the day, the visiting delegates were entertained at a social gathering in the Overseas League rooms at night. Songs were sung by Mr J. Wilson and Miss Joyce Heaphy with Miss Barbara Boyce as accompanist. Films Of the leper station at the lovely little island of Makogai. where more than 700 lepers are cared for by white-clad nursing sisters, were shown by Dr. C. J. Austin who for 23 years was medical superintend dent on the island. The film showed an aerial view of the hospital, pictures of the fine theatre with open sides, the boys’ school with three classrooms, the technical training classrooms, the school children’s dormitory, the women’s recreational room, the Roman Catholic and Methodist Churches and the farm with its cows, pigs and turkeys. Dr. Austin’s films also showed pictures of the leprosy sub-station at Suva—a depot for incoming patients to Makogai and a transit hostel for discharged patients leaving Makogai. This sub-station is also Staffed by nursing sisters.

Among those present were Mr A. S. Geddes (chairman of the board), Mr P. M. Macshane (secretary), Mr A. H. T. Rose (treasurer), Dr. Austin. Mr T. A. Holdsworth and Dr. B. Quin Dr. C. E. de Lataour, Mr W. E. Donovan (Suva) and local members of the board and their wives.