A Title Of Honour

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30200, 3 August 1963, Page 10

A Title Of Honour

Mr P. J. Tw’omey was officially honoured by Britain, France, and the Vatican; but the name by which he came to be known throughout the Pacific countries was his real title of honour. “ The Leper “ Man ” will be numbered among the comparatively few people who, by their own efforts, have succeeded in ameliorating the lot of a whole class of their fellow-men. In these times, the need to help less advanced peoples is widely recognised; one of the happiest features of our age is the readiness of citizens of advanced countries to work to improve the lot of people Jess fortunate than themselves. Forty years ago, when Mr Twomey began his life’s work, the need was not so widely recognised and the workers were fewer. Mr Twomey’s sympathy was aroused by the fate of sufferers from one of the most dreaded of al] diseases. In most native communities sufferers were ostracised—or worse. At the best, they were isolated in communities of fellowsufferers, until death. Mr Twomey dedicated his life to the task of alleviating the sufferings of these pitiable people. He did so by making their plight known and creating for them a great fund of sympathy. The public recognised the sincerity of his call and responded generously to it.

Mr Twomey had the satisfaction of seeing his life's work crowned by the building up of a large and effective organisation —interdenominational, and supported by governments as well as by private contributors—which will ensure the continuation of his mission of mercy. Mr Twomey’s work will be remembered with gratitude by fellow-New Zealanders, to whom it was both inspiration and example.