INDIAN FAMINE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 120, 22 May 1900, Page 3

INDIAN FAMINE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —The people of Auckland, with their wonted gltneitosity' and commendable promptitude, have readily responded to the appeal made on behalf of the iamine stricken natives of India. An earnest desire to alleviate the wants of our fellow subjects is being shown by all classes of the community, and there can be little doubt but that a large sum of money will be gathered. It is amazing that the recurrence of famine in India

has not opened the eyes of those in authority to the necessity of taking active measures to prevent the repetion of suffering and death. This is the eighth famine during- the reigu of our Queen and Empress of India. In the famine of 1837-8 8.000,000 | people were affected, and 800,000 died, iln 1860-1, 13,000,000 were affected, and [upwards of 1,000,000 perished. In 11863, a quarter of the population died |in some of the districts, the total I deaths were enormous; nearly the I whole of the labouring populations i were swept away. In 1866, nearly I 1,000,000 persons 'perished. In 1868-9, 1,250,000 persons, according to the ' Government estimate, died of hunger. In 1876-8, the mortality exceeded 5,250,000. 1896-7: In June of the latter year there were no less than 4,500,000 persons in receipt of relief. At a later date the famine fund was : stated in the columns of the '-Times" to amount to the almost incredible sum of £00,000.00' sterling. The total amount expended on canals for irrigation and navigation up to 1807 was £37,000,000 " sterling. These works, from a business standpoint, have been highly satisfactory, giving a financial return ol fr-m 17 to 55 per cent. It lias ever been the cry of those who ought to move in the matter of irrigation and water storage, that funds were lacking; but in the face of the above figures—wliich^ are copied from an official source —it is absurd to complain of want of money. If once the work was started there would be no lack of investors. I venture to suggest that the people of this cily should forward with their relief contributions a monster petition urging the Government of India to proceed as early as possible with canal and tank operations for irrigation purposes. And further, I would suggest that the petition be supplemented by each church or society that has taken in hand the raising of funds passing a resolution embodying the same sentiment as the - petition contains. Hoping that something <of. the kind indicated may be done.—l am, etc. E. REEVE.