WORK AMONGST LEPERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 8, 15 September 1944, Page 2

WORK AMONGST LEPERS

VISIT TO NEW CALEDONIA

MR P. J. TWOMEY'S INTEREST

At the suggestion of the British Vice Consul and through the courtesy of the Prime. Minister's ment, Mr P. J. Twomey recently visited the Leper Stations in New Caledonia. While there he had conferences on leper work with. the French Doctors and was. entertained by the. French Governor. At the Ducos Statical lie met and conversed with two nursing sisters who had contracted the disease one o.f the latter having been decorated by the French Government. Among the patients he saw two married couples quite a number of children and about 60 Europeans. The British Consul recently distributed gifts from New Zealand to these outcasts and it was a red-letter day for all the sufferers. The European French population in New Caledonia were very deeply impressed with Ne,w Zealand's 'kindness.

Mr Twomey then made a long journey into the interior of the island to see a Bush Leper Station. To get there it was. necessary at one point to cross the swollen creeks on horse-back. Such a high opinion do these people entertain of New Zealand that the profuse words of prai&e on his. country was at times rather embarrassing to a visitor from this Dominion.