Leper Station.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1924, Page 2

Leper Station.

POSSIBLE CHANGE TO FIJI. WELLINGTON, Sent. To The New Zealand loner station, which is situated on Quail Island, in Lyttelton llarhottr. is not altogether satisl'actoiy owing to the dual conti'Cik* of the island hv the Health Department. which has charge ol the leper station, and the Agricultural Department, which Inis charge of the slock quarantine station. The Agricultural Department, has Hue hc*t oart of the island, and those employ'd by ibis Department will give li.i ~ .i.l.iii'c to Ibe li'per station. Tbe* f lepers me looked si I'l t-r bv a matron Hu*) nurses. T lieri* ore in all only nine Europeans mid two Chinese. Some of the patients are in fairly good health, mid assist in carrying the stores for the little coloiiv up from the* landing place.

Certain improvements have been made tin the island in connexion wiili the letter station, and others would he elicited hut for the fact that there is a possibility of having New Zealand lepers treated ai the Fijian station on tin* island of Mokalai. 'l’his would he the best solution of the d illicit Itv so far as Xew Zealand is concerned, ami would probably be in the interests ol the lepers themselves. With a view to such an arrangement communications have recently been passing between the New Zealand and the Fiiian Hoverun'cnls, Iml so far no (lelinile dec isie'i lots been come to. .Meant-til*.*, while there is the possibility of New Zealand lepers being treated at the Fiiian station, it is nut thought advisable to spend some thousands uf pounds on improvements connected with the local station mi Quail Island. The* letters oil Quail Island are all men.