AWAY FROM IT ALL

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30064, 23 February 1963, Page 12

AWAY FROM IT ALL

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, February 22. Rakino Island, 12 miles from Auckland in the Hauraki Gulf, has been bought by an Auckland society to use as a community retreat from the rush and worry of modern life. The society, the United Peoples Organisation, completed the purchase and legally took over possession of the island today. The island, which has an area of 360 acres, cost £37,500. The president, Dr. M. Rickard, a psychologist, said the purchase was arranged by a syndicate which had

now been formed Into the society. A clinical project for patients with nervous disorders was to be built shortly, he said. There would be a camp site, swimming pool and a block motel for the use of local and overseas members.

Dr. Rickgrd said the island would be completely selfsupporting. The society had its own fishing boat and commercial fishing will start within a few weeks. The clinic will be run on a similar basis to a private hospital, except that the patients will have freedom and complete isolation from the rush of modern life. If members decided to live on the island, they would be provided with a house and all necessaries by the society in return for their work. They would receive no salary and would be expected to abide by the rules of the organisation. These rules in. eluded the prohibition of liquor. They would have no rent or tax problems. If any members of the society wished to return to their old way of life, they would be returned the investment which they had lent to the society. No one person living on the island would own anything. People who needed help

and were without financial means would be assisted, said Dr. Rickard. In the future other charitable causes —such as an orphanage and an old pepole’s home—would probably be established.

A school and other longrange plans would be considered in about a year. Already 12 members of the society were living on the island, he said, and he expected many more would move there once they were notified of the completion of the purchase.

Dr. Rickard aald anyone was free to join the aociety if they paid their subscription or gave the aociety a loan.