MAKOGAI ISLAND LEPERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1940, Page 8

MAKOGAI ISLAND LEPERS.

For a number of years the people of New Zealand have sent gifts at Christmas time to the 607 lepers who are isolated at Mokogai, a lonely isle in the Fiji group. One hundred and twentyseven of these lepers are from New Zealand's dependencies. There are 89 leper children on the island. These sadly afflicted people look forward to this festive season with pleasant anticipation of the arrival of the steamer from New Zealand bearing gifts and messages of goodwill. However, difficult as New Zealanders' own circumstances at present are, when they are compared with the lot of these stricken people there is much to be thankful for. On behalf of the less fortunate people of Makogai, Mr. P. J. Twomey is again appealing to the generosity of the people of New Zealand to supply them with such Christmas gifts as gramophone records, jig-saw puzzles, games, toys, musical instruments, sewing silks, embroidery cottons etc., soap, sweets, pipes and tobacco. Gifts of money are most useful. Mr. Twomey thanks the PostmasterGeneral and the Minister of Railways for reducing charges to half rates on all parcels addressed to him for the lepers. Donation may be sent to him at 172 Bealey Avenue, Christchurch, Cl, and all gifts will be duly acknowledged by letter.