LEPROSY WORK IN PACIFIC

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28895, 15 May 1959, Page 8

LEPROSY WORK IN PACIFIC

Board To Distribute £61,500 The distribution of £61.500, approved by the New Zealand Lepers’ Trust Board, has been announced by the secretary (Mr P. J. Twomey) yesterday. The allocation includes grants for medical and leprosy work in eight different Pacific territories, ranging from the Solomons in the west to Tahiti in the east. Details of the allocation are as follows: New Hebrides: Presbyterian mission £4000; Anglican mission £2000; Catholic mission £2000; British ante-natal and child welfare campaign £lOOO. British South Solomons:— Anglican mission £3500; Roman Catholic mission £3500; Methodist mission £3500; Seventh Day Adventist mission £1000; South Sea Evangelical mission £300; Central Leprosy Hospital, Tetere £1000; native council’s settlements £ 1000. Maintenance of Leprosy relief Vessels:— Anglican vessel £4000; Roman Catholic, vessel £4000; Methodist vessel £4OOO. Central Leprosy Hospital, Makogai £4000; Korovou sub-station £1500; Cook Islands £2000; donors’ memorial fund £1200; rehabilitation plan £1000: Tahiti £500; New Caledonia £500; Eastern and Western Samoa £500; Gilbert and Ellice Group £5OO. Combined vessels relief fund £10.000: emergency fund £5OOO. Mr Twomey emphasised the favourable reports on the Trust’s work by Pacific Islands governments, by the representatives of church missions, and by distinguished visitors to the Pacific ter-

ritories. This work had been made possible only by the generosity of New Zealand donors, and as well as being a work of mercy, was the best possible sort of public relations for New Zealand.