LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 2, 22 July 1946, Page 8

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

JUNE MEETING HELD TALK ON MAKOGAI Mi’s Gow presided opening the meeting of the League of Mothers in the usual manner by reading the Rules and Objects of the L.O.M. All present joined in the League Hymn, The Lord’s Prayer and the Prayer for Peace. Mrs Shaw gave the thought, for the month “Good deeds are never lost, He who sows courtesy, reaps friendship, He who plants kindness gathers Love.” The speaker for the day was the Rev. Mr Drake whose subject was “Makogai Island, Fiji, Leper Settlement.” Having been to the island the speaker gave much first hand knowledge of the hospital and lives of the patients. From Fiji a band was taken by an American vessel across to Makogai to help cheer the patients. Makogai, said Rev. Drake, had a leper colony at one end and a native village while at the other end it was entirely free of leprosy. The Leper station was built on the shore and was beautifully kept and laid out. Most patients were on the lawn when he arrived and looked well and spotlessly clean. The nursing of the patients was done by Catholic Nuns and a doctor. Leprosy can be cured he said, but takes a long time. Oil from the Chalmugra nut was injected and this was in plentiful supply as these trees grew on the island and also at Fiji. The speaker mentioned that at Makogai there was a wonderful library of film. Every film that reached the island could not be returned. One patient had been instrumental in helping to complete three motor launches which the patients used for fishing. Most patients were either Indian or Fijian. They were segregated but had fraternisation days. Mrs Metcalfe gave a very full account of the Council meeting held at Auckland.

Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses and the singing of the National Anthem brought a happy meeting to a close.