HELPING EQUATORIAL NATIVES

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 144, 10 February 1939, Page 4

HELPING EQUATORIAL NATIVES

APPEAL BY MIS SIGNERS INTERESTING FIG URES “We have received a very ready response- to the work,” said Mi*. P. Claus last week, when referring tYP the Seventh Day Adventist Mission Board’s appeal in connection with •which lie has been touring the Bay of Plenty. Controlling missionary colleges at Cuorabo-ng, New South Wales; Carmel, Western Australia; and Longburn in New Zealand, the Board is conducting a world-wide programme but .Mr. Claus’ immediate work is mainly connected with the alleviation of suffering amongst the natives of New Guinea, Papua and other equatorial areas where leprosy, infantile paralysis and tropical disease take a terrible toll. A number of photographs showing the terrible nature of the tropical diseases, were shown by Mr. Claus, who pointed out that lack of sanitation and allowing animals and fowls to occupy the same quart ers as the natives, was the main cause of , the loathsome diseases. Some interesting figures furnished by .Air. Claus indicate that the Board is now conducting welfare work in different countries. This necessitates the use of 71-1 languages and dia-

le'cts; an increase of 65 new languages in the short period of one year, or practically one language added every live days. The hoard’s literature is now being printed in 194 languages'. Physicians, teachers and evangelists at home and abroad number 28,029, while 137 missionaries have been sent out during the past year. Since 1901 the number of missionaries sent out has totalled 4331, not including children or furlough returns. This is an average of two a week. Throughout the world the board’s institutions in operation number 2997, by far the greater number, 2,769, being educational. They employ 6104 teachers and they are coping with 120,118 students. Medical institutions number 153, utilising the work of 1093 physicians and 5302 nurses and other medical workers. The Board also controls 75 publishing institutions with 1-71 employees. During 1937, 690,072 patients were cared for in sanatoriums, hospitals, treatment rooms and dispensaries, the vast majority of them being finite unable tot. help themselves or give any return to those assisting them, except their gratitude. The value pi the charity work done by these institutions was 978,694 during that year. In Australia and New Zealand alone 185,000 people were assisted in 1937 with food and clothing, and the net gain in membership for the year was 14,619. The total funds received for homo and foreign missions was £2,589,975 during the twelve months.