RED CROSS DONATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 132, 6 March 1940, Page 4

RED CROSS DONATION

Sir v —We shall be grateful if you will grant us space" to correct the wrong impression that *.100 was donated to the Red Cross Society by the Makogai Lepers (N.Z.) Tn-st Board. The facts tire thai the lepers held a meeting and originated the idea of helping our wounded soldiers at the front as a gesture of gratitude to New Zealand. Twelve delegates representing the dill'erent races of which the 619 lepers are composed sent a joint letter to us asking that our board would act as their trustees and pass on to the Red Cross Society their gift of £100. The letter read thus: "Wc offer this gift as a token of gratitude and love to our friends the good people of New Zealand. Trusting that it will be of help to those of you who may be suffering at the front through fighting for our safet5 r ." The Medical Superintendent who forwarded their request stated that the patients were very loyal and would be bitterly disappointed if they were not allowed to help in this time of an Empire Crisis., He very strongly recommended us to carry out their wish. Our board's objects are to look after the interests of all our suffering brothers and sisters at Makogai and we do not on our own account make donations to any society however worthy the object may be. It seems to us that this splendid gesture on the lepers' own part was a case of not one leper who returned to give tjhanks but the full ten, Fepers. We trust this explanation is now clear to all our friends. Yours etc., j T. FLETCHER TELFORD, J.P. j M. D. Chairman. I P. J. TWOMEY, Hon Secretary.!