BELGIAN RELIEF.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 50, 27 February 1915, Page 8

BELGIAN RELIEF.

—■ ' •'■''£ . DISPOSAL- OF FUSBBL i I iDr. T. Hope Lewis (president of the Tie. toria League) writes:—"l regret that ■Sir. Bums and Mr. iLunn should feel aggrieved at my letter re Belgian relief. No one appreciates more than I do the immense amount of work that these gentlemen and the committee hare ' accomplished. I in no way doubted that they had placed the funds to the very best advantage, hut, surely, there was no harm, in pointing out "that there was more than one Belgian Relief Fund operating in England. Mr. Lunn states that I made" n». founded charges," whereas I made ne charges at all. My object TO to gin reliable information as to WhaJ; wai ■being done with the (Belgian funds ia London — not necessarily of Auckland origin—and to draw attaention to the fact that there are, apparently, two distinct uses to which the funds from the Empire are being applied. I am still of opinion that New Zealand's contribution in the future should go from Xew Ze* land direct." AWAITIXG INFORMATION. 1 (Bj- Telegraph.—Press Association.) f AV.ELMXGTOX, Friday.. It i≤ considered- that the leperial authorities are in a quandary as-to ho* - to advise the Australian and New Zeiland Governments to act in connection with the special appeal which has .beet made on behalf of the distressed' Bdgians. Several cable message have;'so far remained unanswered, and it is fey; lieved that the Imperial Government las as yet found no means of safeguarding contributions in money or provisiou that may .be sent from the Antipodes.^ "There is no use." said Mr. Massey today, "in sending help unless ire-ate ahsolutelv certain that there 13 no .chance of it being diverted to the Germans. I confess that from the very first I a* the difficulties of the th«t the greatest care must be exerciseo. Our contributions are not actually "cony mandetred by the Germane, but whst is to prevent them from making Jeries on the poor Belgians to an eqnel extent! They are in possession of the country and* can do what they like. As jbr,»ny agreements they may pretend to what good are they? 'Scraps of P»pW> to be torn up, according to the'exigencies of the situation. "PerewKilly and officially." said 3&v. Massey, "I am as anxious as anyone t» help the Belgians, but I cannot see.my way to take a single step iintiM.iwe the sanction of the Imperial • autfcprttics." Mr. Massey added tnat neis prepared to make a recommendation to Cabinet, but up to the present iiffe insufficient information to go upon. A CANTERBURY SUGGESTION. •; (By 'ielcgraph.—rress Associatioi) • - OHRISTCHURCH;• this day. • The Canterbury Chamber of ' Commerce to-day decided ,to urge the Premier to obtain the .opinion of .number , of Parliament on the question of prb.viiing assistance for the Belgians, w' matter to be dealt with . as' one W urgency, and money remitted, monthly until the end of the war. It was alse decided to urge the Government; to nw» a surcharge of 21 per cent, on all ay»¥* - able sources of revenue' to' provide ;t™ money required.