Makogai Lepers Aid

Red Cross

IT is probable that never before in its long history has the British Empire been so completely united as it is in the present war against Nazi Germany. All sorts of little incidents, reported from out-of-the-way places, show how deter mined the British people are that on this occasion they will pay the cost of a guaranteed peace in the future, no matter what the cost will be. Here is an example.

Out in the Central Pacific, on the is land of Makogai, in the Fijian Group, there is a large leper settlement—6l9 lepers from all over Polynesia are col lected there. Recently, a collection was made in New Zealand on their behalf.

The authorities have now been asked, on behalf of a committee representing

the 619 lepers, to allot £lOO from the funds collected in New Zealand to the funds of the Red Cross Society to be used to assist Great Britain in the war. . n “B 10 lepers will be very disappointed if this request is refused”, said the medi cal superintendent. “They are intensely loyal, and are eagerly following the war news over the air and in the newspapers.

They hope that they will be given an opportunity of feeling that they are contributing in a small way to the neces sities of the Empire.”

Mr. F. H. Gander, of the Seventh Day Adventist mission, whose station is at Bena Bena, in Central New Guinea, has been spending furlough in N.S.W. He says that safety razor blades, mirrors, and hair oil are beginning to oust sea shells as the principal currency of the primitive tribes in Central New Guinea