WORKMATES HELP SICK SAMOAN

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30562, 3 October 1964, Page 22

WORKMATES HELP SICK SAMOAN

(N.Z. Press Association) INVERCARGILL, October 2. A desperately ill Samoan, Ralph Skipps, was flown to his home city, Auckland, today by a specially equipped chartered aircraft so that he could be near his | children.

The £336 charter cost was raised on board the Wanganella from the 500 men working on the Manapouri power scheme tail-race tunnel contract. Mr Skipps, aged 44, of 69 Metcalfe road, Henderson, is now in Auckland Hospital. For the last nine months he has been working as a mechanic at Deep Cove. A Tourist Air Travel Grumman Widgeon, specially fitted out as a one-bed hospital, left Invercargill Airport shortly before 8 a.m. today. Piloted by Mr Max Brister,

the aircraft reached Auckland about 3 pin.

A bed was reserved at Auckland Hospital for Mr Skipps by Dr. Howard Hunter, Medical Superintendent at Kew Hospital, Invercargill, in consultation with Dr. D. R. Goodfellow, superintendent of Auckland Hospital. It is expected the drive for funds on board the Wanganella, being made by the Deep Cove branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, will realise more than £5OO.

The money not needed for the charter will be given to Mrs Dole Skipps, wife of the sick man, as a relief fund. Mr Skipps was operated on in Kew Hospital some months ago for appendicitis. He returned to the job, but developed severe abdominal pain. He was returned to* Kew Hospital and operated on again two weeks ago. Mrs Skipps flew to Invercargill from Auckland last Saturday to be with her husband.

Mr and Mrs Skipps have seven children, four of whom are in New Zealand.

A daughter, Pepe, is married and living in California. Another, Carol, is married and living in Mangakino.

Two daughters, Pauline, aged 17, and Doreen, aged 14, are living in Samoa. Two more daughters, Leoma, aged I'2, and Maureen, aged 10. live in Auckland with the only son, Toatele, aged three.