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taeiaBGRENFELL OUTLINESwIAMBITIOUS PROGRAMI11Missionary Outlines Plans for North ern Newfoundland and for the Coast of Labrador.'JfriIr)iiirtiiNorth Sydney, June 15.—The exploitation of the natural resources of northern Newfoundland and Labrador on a much more extensive scale than heretofore, is one of the chief ambitions of the noted missionary, Dr. Grenfell, who spent the day in North Sydney yesterday ! and who left by the steamer Kyle last evening en route to the colony and Labrador.In a short talk with the genial doctor yesterday, a Herald reporter was given some interesting informationFIf W! IIT * 'Wregarding the future work of the Grenfell mission in its efforts to help the people of that northern clime to develop and use to best advantage what nature has provided for their sustenance.“In addition to providing schools,4orphanages, and hospitals, we also intend to teach the people how to develop their own land and make their island home as self-sustaining as possible. As a beginning, we have placed in charge of this work Charles Watson, a former employee of the big firm of T. Eaton A. Co., Toronto, who will act as businesg manager of our various enterprises now operating,” said Dr. Grenfell.“The fishing industry is one which will be' developed as fully as possible, and already two cargoes of fish have been shipped to a large firm in Gloucester who are disposing of them by express and mail shipments, and which are being delivered in all parts of the United States east of the Mississippi for 10 cents per pound. Further efforts to enlarge this trade are being made Jn America, and which we hope will meet with considerable success, as some of the biggest philanthropists in the States arebehind us in our efforts in this respect.ST. ANTHONY.The tanning of seal skins and shark skins is another branch of industry which has been started at St. Anthony’s. This plant is in charge of Philip Hunt, a-native who was sent to New York to learn the tanning business. Some considerable work has been done throughout the winter which gave employment to a number of men and women.“The seal and shark skins,” explained the doctor, “will be used in the manufacture of shoes and soles, and already excellent results have been obtained. We have also established two saw mills on a co-operative .basis with the people, and ineach locality considerable employment has been given. '“It is our intention,” Dr. Grenfell continued, “to establish as many small local industries as possible and which will provide employment for a great number of people, and tend to make them self-sustaining.“The women will be taught to make themselves useful in every way possible, and in the party which left last night are the Misses Conbey and Anderson, two native young ladies who have been in the States studying and who are going back to instruct the women in the arts of weaving, toy and mat-making. *Agriculture has not been forgotten either, and the mission this year will have the services of an expert in this line. The shores along the inland bays of Labrador are capable of raising some vegetables and the mission is going to experiment in raising a special turnip called Petraski, which has been grown in Alaska tnost successfully. The only mitigating circumstances against raising vegetables is the severe frosts which Sometimes occur in the month of August.THE MORTALITY RATE.The mortality rate among children in Labrador i8 extremely high, and in many cases three and four out of' every five children born die. This is due chiefly to extreme ignorance onthe part of the mothers in all mater-1 nity matters, and the lack of proper nutrition, or how it should be used. Every effort is to be made to cut down the terrible death rate among infants, and in the party are six nutrition workers who will devote their sole time and attention to this important work.A new orphanage has been built at Sandwich Bay,, Labrador, which is being used as a boarding school anlt;L where 30 pupils were enrolled during the winter. Another new orphanage is being constructed at St. Anthony’s. It is entirely of concrete and will cost about $80,000, and will provide accommodation for 60 pupils. It i8 expected the building will be ready for occupancy next year. Our old orphanage at this place will be turned into a boarding school. At the present time we have a school of 100 pupils at St. Anthony’s and much progress is being made. A nursing station has been opened at Lewis Bay, north of Battle Harbor. At Cartwright with the assistance of the Hudson Bay Co., we intend construct-iing another nursing station, as well as a smaller one at Flower Cove. They will be in charge of capable nurses who will give special attention to maternity cases. There are five hospitals established now in northern Newfoundland and Labrador, five of which are operated in summer and four in winter. They are located at t St. Anthony’s, Pillas Bay, Battle Harbor, Indian Harbor, and one at Harrington on the Canadian coast and North West River. The Battle Harbor hospital has accommodation for 30 beds, and the others about 20 beds.MORE HOSPITALSLast year a campaign was started to raise a million and a half dollars for missionary work in this district, was a deficit last year of $40,000. At Twillingate we intend shortly to start building a hospital which will costabout $50,000. The fishermen are cooperating with us in the matter of cost, and'the Newfoundland govern-j ment has promised us a yearly grant of $10,000. It will be in charge of Dr. Charles Parsons, a graduate of John and so far about $700,000 has been subscribed. Toronto and Quebec city were large contributors, but no effort was made to raise money in Montreal, owing to the fact that a big drive was on for funds for McGill College, but we expect to get a considerable amount from there this summer, said Dr. Grenfell. There! Hopkins University.SiStedonRiC(mRjplththtybudrthtr;R(ottoBlFreDit iz Hi GcVOtucarilrvttt(£1t1C1IiiIttiVllpa
Newspaper Details
St Johns Daily Star
St Johns, Newfoundland, CA
Mon, Jun 20, 1921
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Wallace M.
CA 30 Aug 2022
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