AN ISLAND PARADISE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17568, 19 June 1925, Page 13

AN ISLAND PARADISE.

QUAIL ISLAND LEPERS’ FUTURE HOME. (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, June 18 Dao nine lepers, consisting of four -Jaoris, two Chinese and three Europeans who are shortly to be translurred from Quail Island, Lyttelton I ,1 r u’ U - r ’ to Mokogai leper station in the hiji group are assured of a dejightful home. Dr Fvengley, of Auck- ‘ “hi! Hospital, who returned to Auckland to-day by the Navua after five weeks among typhoid cases at Suva, nad the opportunity of visiting Mokogai, and stated that it was one of the most beautiful and attractive islands that could be found anywhere. Mokogai, an island with an area of about five square miles, lies about twentvtir£rr»Piles north -easfc of Lcvuka. „ . 'There are some 300 lepers living on tins delightful place.” said Dr Frengley, ‘ ‘and I am tcld that many who recover from the scourge of leprosy do not want to leave it. Hero in a tropical climate, surrounded by all the beauties of Nature, the lepers pass away the time as happily as is possible. Indeed, the Now Zealand lepers could not go to a better place ” Dr Neff, a Canadian, was in charge oi tne station, and he had eight nun*: assisting. They were wonderful people and were doing splendid work. The island was equipped with schools and an up-to-date hospital with proper wards, etc. Everything possible was done to ensure the happiness of the lepers, and among other things there was a picture palace. “Sing songs” v/ero a popular form of entertainmentFew of the lepers were in a bad state, out the majority of them were imarormg. Marriage is prohibited, and the men and the women live in different settlements. Both sexes are allowed to intermingle, however, at certain periods during the day. Dr Frengley was greatly impressed with the economic conditions existing on the island. The lepers grew all their own food and were paid for their labour. They also ran a" co-operative store and generally spent their earnings in small luxuries, such as tobacco, etc. Tlio community was run bv lepers for lepers. They had their own policemen, whose duty it was to see that everything proceeded smoothly. All the patients at present at Quail Island hare consented to go to Mokogai. Tlic Quail Island station will be closed, and the cost of maintenance of the lepers at Mokogai will be borne by tho New Zealand Government.