A DEADLY WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 76, 26 September 1941, Page 8

A DEADLY WAR

CLOSE TO NEW ZEALAND

VICTIMS OF LEPROSY

A deadly war is being waged at Makogai—a war against a' terrible diseases. Makogai is an island in the Fiji Group, only three and a half days' sailing from Auckland,, and here 460 men and boys and 215 women and girls are shut up, as if in a prison, victims of leprosy. Physical pain, more or less acute as the disease progresses, coupled with hideous sights and much mental suffering, is the lot of these people. Two of the nursing staff, whose noble work is beyond praise, have contracted the disease.

AN APPEAL FOR HELP,

There will surely be a generous response to the appeal being made by Mr. P. J. Twomey, of 172 Bealey Avenue, Christchurch, for help for these people. Mr. Twomey is honorary collector. He states that gifts of money will be most useful, and practically the whole of what is received will be spent in New Zealand. The Postmaster-General has granted half-rates on all parcels addressed to Mr. Twomey for the lepers, and all donations will be acknowledged personally. Most suitable gifts are light materials (new) for women's and children's clothes; silks and embroidery cottons; siriglets.v sand-shoes (new), games, bats, tennis rackets, tobacco, pipes, fishing lines, sweets, soap, children's books (only in good repair), and a limited number of books on needlework, with#or without patterns. No other books are being sent this year. Sunshades or light umbrellas in good repair will also be appreciated.